International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Governing Collaborative Healthcare Improvement: Lessons From an Atlantic Canadian Case

Document Type : Perspective

Authors
Meghan Rossiter 1
Jennifer Verma 1
Jean-Louis Denis 2
Stephen Samis 1
Richard Wedge 3
Chris Power 4
1 Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement, Ottawa, ON, Canada
2 Canada Research Chair on Governance and Transformation in Health Care Organizations and Systems, Université de Montréal-CRCHUM, Montreal, QC, Canada
3 Health Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, Canada
4 Canadian Patient Safety Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
10.15171/ijhpm.2017.60
Abstract
The Atlantic Healthcare Collaboration for Innovation and Improvement in Chronic Disease (AHC) Quality Improvement Collaborative (QIC) in Eastern Canada provided an approach to spur system-level reform across multiple health systems for patients and families living with chronic disease. Developed and led by senior executives with a unique governance approach and involving clinical front-line teams, the AHC serves as a practical example of leadership creating and driving momentum for achieving success in collaborative health system improvements.
Keywords
Governance
Executive Leadership
Systems Change
Quality Improvement
Chronic Disease
Healthcare Improvement
Subjects
  1. Spurlock B, Teske P. All In: Utilizing Healthcare Collaboratives to Save Lives and Improve Care. Roseville, CA: Cynosure Health; 2015.
  2. Denis JL, Brown L, Forest PG, et al. Policy Capacity for Health System Reform. Halifax, NS: Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation; 2015.
  3. Verma J, Rossiter M, Kirvan K, et al. Going far together: Healthcare collaborations for innovation and improvement in Canada. Int J Healthc Manag. 2013;6(2):66-76. doi:10.1179/2047971913Y.0000000029
  4. Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI). Atlantic Healthcare Collaboration for Innovation and Improvement in Chronic Disease Charter; March 12, 2012. http://www.cfhi-fcass.ca/sf-docs/default-source/collaborations/Atlantic-Charter-March12-2012-E.pdf?sfvrsn=0. 
  5. Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI). Atlantic Healthcare Collaboration for Innovation and Improvement Executive Committee Terms of Reference; 2012.[Available upon request].
  6. Thornhill, J. Charter on improving quality of patient care: can CEOs and boards create the momentum Canada needs to realize performance gains?Healthc Q. 2010;13(3):12-14. doi:10.12927/hcq.2010.21806  
  7. Swensen S, Pugh M, McMullan C, et al. High-Impact Leadership: Improve Care, Improve the Health of Populations, and Reduce Costs [White Paper]. Cambridge (Massachusetts): Institute for Healthcare Improvement; 2013
  8. Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement (CFHI). Accelerating Healthcare Improvement: Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement’s Assessment Tool; 2014. http://www.cfhi-fcass.ca/PublicationsAndResources/cfhi-self-assessment-tool.    
  9. Verma J, Denis JL, Samis S, et al. A collaborative approach to a chronic care problem. Healthc Pap. 2016;15 Spec No:19-38.
  10. Emerson K, Nabatchi T, Balogh S. An integrative framework for collaborative governance. J Public Adm Res Theory. 2012;22(1):1-29. doi:10.1093/jopart/mur011  
  11. Ansell C, Gash A. Collaborative governance in theory and practice. J Public Adm Res Theory. 2007;18:543-571. doi:10.1093/jopart/mum032
  12. Baker R, Denis JL. A Comparative Study of Three Transformative Healthcare Systems: Lessons for Canada [Research report]. Ottawa (Ontario): Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement; 2011.
  13. De Silva D. Improvement Collaboratives in Health Care [Evidence Scan]. London (England):  The Health Foundation; 2014.
  14. Champagne F, Smits P. Evaluation of the Atlantic Healthcare Collaboration [Report]. Ottawa (Ontario): Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement; December 2014.
  15. Akunov N, Leith E. An Analysis of Health System Priorities in Atlantic Canada: An Environmental Scan. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement; 2012. 
  16. Valente TW, Philips K, Elicksen-Jensen K, et al. Measuring a Chronic Disease Management Network. The Atlantic Healthcare Collaboration; In Press.
  17. Wedge R, Currie DW. System-level reform in healthcare delivery for patients and populations living with chronic disease. Healthc Pap. 2016;15 Spec No:67-73.
  18. Saltman RB, Cahn Z. Restructuring health systems for an era of prolonged austerity: an essay by Richard B. Saltman and Zachary Cahn.BMJ. 2013;346:f3972. doi:10.1136/bmj.f3972
  19. Naylor D, Girard F, Mintz J, et al. Unleashing Innovation: Excellent Healthcare for Canada. Report of the Advisory Panel on Healthcare Innovation [Report]. Ottawa (Ontario): Health Canada; July 2015. 
  20. Lazar H, Lavis JN, Forest PG, et al. Paradigm Freeze: Why Is It so Hard to Reform Health-Care Policy in Canada? Kingston: Queen’s University Press; 2013.
International Journal of Health Policy and Management
Volume 6, Issue 12
2017
Pages 691-694

  • Received Date 14 December 2016
  • Revised Date 25 March 2017
  • Accepted Date 09 May 2017
  • First Published Date 01 December 2017
  • Published Date 01 December 2017