Doctors of BC President speaks to the Select Standing Committee on Finance

On October 15, 2014 Dr Bill Cavers made a presentation to the Select Standing Committee on Finance during its hearings on Budget 2015. 

Dr Cavers outlined the importance of BC’s doctors, government and Health Authorities working together to provide strong patient care and better health outcomes.   He spoke of the “collaborative programs” – programs that are jointly managed by the Doctors of BC and Ministry of Health, and funded through the Physician Master Agreement. 

These joint committees deal with patient care issues specific to general practice, to the specialty system, and to rural areas.  These types of programs didn’t exist anywhere else before, but are now fundamentally changing the face of health care for patients…and for doctors.

These collaborative relationships are not only improving health outcomes for British Columbians, they are also reducing the cost of providing that care.  By introducing incentives and enhanced training for doctors in a number of different areas including Chronic Disease Management, Maternity Care, and Mental Health Management for children, youth, and adults, doctors feel they are being supported in a way they had not felt before, and more patients are not falling through the cracks.

However, there is still more work to do, work that deserves to be supported.  In going forward and continuing to provide the best patient care while controlling health care costs, we should expand that which has proven successful.  Family doctors now have a great working relationship with their communities; doctors who work in hospitals are trying to find a better way to work with administrators and influence decisions regarding health authority changes that affect how patients are taken care of.   
 
Our health care system faces many challenges.  Doctors of BC wants to continue to be a partner in these solutions. Together, we will promote innovation and the best use of taxpayers’ dollars to help meet some of the challenges in our health system. We believe that we are all better when we work together.

Full text of Dr Cavers’ speech 
For more information on the collaborative programs go to:  
General Practice Services Committee www.gpscbc.ca
Specialist Services Committee www.sscbc.ca
Shared Care www.sharedcarebc.ca