YOUR SMA
alues its privileges above its principles soon loses both.”
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
health system transformation.
There will be a lot of talk in the next
few months about appropriateness
and making the best choices for all.
Physicians ought to endorse the right
care, provided by the right provider,
to the right patient, in the right venue, at the right time. Ensuring each of
these elements is present each time
a patient accesses the health system
will eliminate the over-use, underuse or misuse of treatments and diagnostic procedures.
Part of the privilege of being a physician may be recognition as a leader
in the health care system. Physicians
must be aware that they are accountable to their colleagues, to other
health care providers, and to administrative entities. These providers, in
turn, must be aware that they need
to work in true collaboration with
physicians, enabling patient-centred,
team-delivered care, in a sustainable
system.
When physicians are committed
to leading and improving quality,
optimal patient outcomes will be
achieved and costs will come down.
To achieve this, we will require more
communication, more collaboration and better quality metrics and
reporting. Our participation in accountable care initiatives will ensure
that physicians are heard, and are
helping to set accountability standards.
Principled providers will highly value
evidence-based best practices, appropriateness and accountability.
We will support, on principle, immunization of health care workers.
We support, on principle, diagnosis
based on professional clinical assessment.
We support, on principle, treatment
tailored to true diagnosis.
As we, along with the Canadian Medical Association, currently focus on
physician professionalism, and the
unique value of physicians among
other providers, we are reminded
of the need to act with integrity in
recognizing our own privileges and
principles.
Sincerely,
Dr. Clare Kozroski
SMA President
[email protected]
SMA NEWS DIGEST | SPRING 2014
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