Saskatchewan’s plan for primary health care is based on a set of defined characteristics:

Accessibility
Access to responsive, co-ordinated primary health care teams and networks province-wide, offering a full range of everyday health services.

Public Participation
The development of partnerships between consumers and providers will facilitate community participation in the planning, delivery and evaluation of the primary health care delivery system.

Effective Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Focus on health promotion, proactive approach of promoting a healthy lifestyle, working towards preventing disease and injury.

Proactive and Collaborative Approach to Management of Chronic Diseases
Interdisciplinary teams will be engaged in all the elements of the prevention and management of chronic diseases.

Appropriate Technology
The use of technology to support the delivery of quality health services.

Intersectoral Co-operation
Collaboration with other community services to address the “determinants of health” that impact a person’s health and dependence on the health care system.

Patient/Client Centred Care
Patients/clients participate in decisions regarding their care and their care providers.

Community Development
This approach involves consumers and providers working together to enhance the community’s overall capacity to address issues and needs affecting the health of the community.

Human Resources Continuum
The continuum:
- uses the most effective and economically efficient health service providers;
- ensures training/education of health service providers consistent with the principles of primary health care; and
- incorporates the appropriate use of and support for self-care, and informal and formal service providers.

Integration and Co-ordination of Services
A comprehensive range of co-ordinated health promotion, prevention, primary curative care, rehabilitative, supportive and palliative services will be provided by integrated, interdisciplinary, multi-service networks of providers.