Resumen
Healthcare provider experiences with access to care for disabled patient populations may inform healthcare system change and improve health outcomes. Persons with spinal cord injury often require access to life-long care. The objective of this study was to explore healthcare provider perspectives on client access to care in traumatic spinal cord injury. We used an interpretive qualitative study with semi-structured interviews and focus groups to explore provider perspectives on five access dimensions: availability, accessibility, affordability, accommodation, and acceptability. Volunteer (n=23) healthcare providers (therapists, physicians, nurses, home care workers and managers) working with traumatic spinal cord injury clients in Saskatchewan participated. Nine healthcare providers serviced rural areas. Healthcare providers felt restricted in their ability to ensure availability of services. In rural areas, therapy and counselling services were often not available. Parking and transportation barriers severely impacted the accessibility of services. Inconsistencies related to the affordability of equipment and accessible housing were expressed. Efforts to accommodate clients to remain in their home communities were apparent. Night time or early morning care seemed impossible to accommodate. Healthcare providers accepted that attitudes and efforts concerning health advocacy among clients, families, and other care providers impacted access. Barriers related to availability, accessibility, and affordability were perceived to affect traumatic spinal cord injury care. Healthcare providers identified the need to accommodate clients? needs by assuming different healthcare and advocacy roles, especially in the face of service shortages. However, restrictions imposed by administrative guidelines, policies or cost were perceived to limit the ability to fully accommodate client?s needs.