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THE ADOPTION OF A CO-MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AT CSSS DES SOMMETS WILL PROVIDE BETTER ORGANIZED HEALTHCARE AND SERVICES

August 14, 2011

Doctors and administrators are optimistic about the implementation of a healthcare co-management system. These were the findings of a survey conducted on June 1, 2011, among 53 healthcare administrators and managers, who are currently, or will in the future, play a role in implementing the system at CSSS des Sommets.

This survey was used to study the perceptions of doctors and administrators on co-management, using a series of statements to which they had to give their opinion.

A strong majority of doctors and administrators at CSSS des Sommets feel that the adoption of co-management would have a positive impact on the care offered to patients and the population (70%) and would provide more organized healthcare and services (75%). Although two out of three respondents believe that co-management will mean a significant change in the way they do things, 63% believe that is promises to be more effective.
To most of the statements that followed, a strong proportion of respondents (20% on average) answered “I don’t know”, which confirms the need to hold the training session as anticipated. The survey responses revealed that only 27% understood how the responsibilities would be attributed to the management team, and 91% expressed the need to learn more about how co-management has worked in other places.
The survey also revealed some concerns among the doctors, which included a fear that co-management would require more time (86%), that it would cost more (57%), and that co-managers would not have the power (43%) or support (42%) to make the decisions required to improve the programs.
The comments included by some of the respondents support the survey results. Many question the aspect of time management, stating that co-management would add to their workload. On the other hand, others see it as an opportunity to improve the communication of information.

Dr. Alexandra T. Greenhill, one of the speakers at the training session, saw similar questions arise everywhere else in Canada where a co-management system was implemented. What she feels is very encouraging in the case of the CSSS des Sommets is “the preponderance of openness and optimism toward the concept from both the doctors and the administrators, as well as the desire to learn from the experiences of other organizations, instead of repeating the same mistakes”.