Author: Milette L, Hebert R and Veil A

Journal: Canadian Family Physician, 2005

Volume/pages: Vol 51, pp1104-1105

About the study

This is a Canadian study exploring the impact of Integrated Service Delivery (ISD) Networks from the perspective of family doctors. ISD Networks are networks of organisations aiming to ensure continuity for, and improve effectiveness of services to, a specific population, such as older people.   The networks require family doctors to work closely with social workers and nurses in case management roles.   The study used a self-completion questionnaire to examine doctors' perspectives before and 6 months after networks were established.

Findings

Both the before and after questionnaires were completed by 104 of a possible 267 family doctors across three Canadian municipalities. Before networks were established, 85.7% of doctors indicated that they would be interested in using case managers.   After 6 months the results showed that there had been some problems; namely that doctors frequently forgot to use the case managers (69.1%), they were in the habit of using social workers instead (63.6%) and many did not know how to contact the case managers (59.4%).

Key Messages for practice

• It is important to ensure that staff are provided with the information they need to participate effectively in a model for integrated care such as an ISD network
• To help maintain enthusiasm, staff must be reminded of the advantages to themselves and their patients of taking part in such a network.