An Exploration of the Methods of Communication between Policy Makers and Providers that Help Facilitate Implementation of Primary Health Care Reforms Rachelle Ashcroft a , Lauren Kennedy b , and Trish Van Katwyk b a Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; b School of Social Work, Renison University College, University of Waterloo, Canada ABSTRACT Policy reforms targeting organizational structure, expansion of interprofes- sional teams, inclusion of collaborative practices, and shifting provider remuneration models have resulted with substantial change for providers and leaders with primary health care settings in Canada, USA, and else- where. Discourse analysis provides a theoretical lens that can help build an understanding about the implications of different modes of communication on the implementation of new policy initiatives like new models of primary health care. This study applies discourse analysis to determine the modes of communication that were used to relay policy expectations underpinning a newly emerging interprofessional model of primary health care. We conducted a secondary analysis of a qualitative study conducted between 2010 and 2011 with primary health care leaders and policy informants during a period of health care reform in Canada. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven key policy informants (PIs) and 29 primary health care leaders (physicians, executive directors, and non- physician clinical leaders). Discourse analysis is useful in the investigation of the meanings of health, health policy, and health care settings. KEYWORDS Primary health care; interprofessional; discourse analysis; qualitative; health care reform; policy Policy reforms targeting organizational structure, expansion of interprofessional teams, inclusion of collaborative practices, and shifting provider remuneration models have resulted in substantial change for providers and leaders with primary health care settings in Canada, USA, and elsewhere (Ashcroft, 2015; Corrigan, Krase, & Reed, 2017; Hutchison, Levesque, Strumpf, & Coyle, 2011; Lynch, Greeno, Teich, & Delany, 2016). Various policy levers are necessary to help facilitate the implementation of such robust organizational and culture change associated with the shift from solo physician models to interprofessional collaborative models of primary health care (Levesque & Sutherland, 2017; Scott, Mannion, Davies, & Marshall, 2003). Clearly, communicating goals and providing guidance to help organizations achieve these goals are essential, particularly when imple- menting large scale and complex systems change in health care (Golden, 2006; Lorenzi & Riley, 2000). The mode of communication that policy makers use to inform and negotiate with primary health care leaders and providers during a period of intensive health systems change can act as a facilitator or barrier to the intended reform outcomes. How information is relayed influences what meanings are relayed (Gee, 2011a). Discourse analysis provides a theoretical lens that can help build an understanding about the implications of different modes of communication on the implementation of new policy initiatives like shifting from solo- physician models to new interprofessional models of primary health care. To facilitate these initiatives, primary health care reforms included substantive changes in organizational structures, CONTACT Rachelle Ashcroft rachelle.ashcroft@utoronto.ca Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1V4, Canada © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC SOCIAL WORK IN PUBLIC HEALTH 2019, VOL. 34, NO. 4, 370–382 https://doi.org/10.1080/19371918.2019.1606756