At its October meeting, with input from health authority and division representatives at the table, the GPSC committed to make two important operational changes in order to improve linkages between local and regional collaborative tables and the GPSC, and to give the GPSC more flexibility as it supports turning provincial policy and strategy into action at the regional and local levels.
First, the committee will decrease the frequency of its meetings from eleven to five times a year. This new schedule will be in effect after the November 2017 meeting.
Further, as of early 2018, the committee will adjust its approach to member representation at Collaborative Services Committees (CSCs) and Interdivisional Strategic Councils (ISCs), with each health authority region assigned a team of three representatives: a representative from both Doctors of BC and the Ministry of Health, as well as a senior GPSC support staff member. (While some divisions have had a consistent GPSC representative, currently half of CSCs do not have one.)
These changes are intended to:
- Ensure CSC and ISC partners have regular support and advice from the GPSC, as well as to better enable two-way communication and a more fulsome GPSC role at CSCs and ISCs, as needed; and
- Enable GPSC members to dedicate necessary time to the work that happens outside of regular committee meetings, including governance functions, working groups, and task groups.
Increasingly, regional and community collaborative tables such as CSCs and ISCs are playing a pivotal role in health system transformation, including the establishment of patient medical homes and primary care networks, and specialized community care programs.
The committee is committed to a PDSA cycle with both of these new approaches and will review and adjust as needed.
More information about the upcoming changes can be found below. If you have further questions please contact gpsc@doctorsofbc.ca.
FAQs
Why is the GPSC making these changes?
The GPSC recognizes that CSCs and ISCs are pivotal to the work to improve primary and community care in BC. Strong engagement with and representation at these tables is key to our collective success. Current representation was problematic in that many divisions have been without a representative for a long period of time. In relation to the GPSC’s own meeting schedule, reducing the number of meetings per year frees up resources, including committee members’ time for the work of GPSC. These new approaches collectively best position committee members to engage and maintain strong ties with the 35 divisions and their health authority partners.
Are there any steps divisions need to take?
Divisions are asked to please send Shenise Power their updated CSC and ISC and schedule for 2018, so that the GPSC can begin planning appropriately for the upcoming changes.
As some divisions like the monthly meeting summaries and co-chair calls eleven times per year, how will divisions learn what is happening now?
Divisions and health authorities will have a more consistent and frequent connection with the committee: a team of GPSC reps who will be an even closer source of information. The calls and summaries will still take place after the five meetings per year. Updates will also continue to be shared through Divisions Dispatch, the GPSC newsletter and website.
What will CSC and ISC representation from GPSC members look like when the change takes place?
Each health authority region will be assigned a team of three reps: a representative from both Doctors of BC and the Ministry of Health, as well as a senior GPSC support staff member. In addition to participating in meetings, as appropriate, your representative team will be a source of advice and information-sharing as needs arise.
Will a division's GPSC representative team attend every CSC or ISC meeting?
A division's GPSC representative team will be available as a resource both before and after meetings and will attend CSC meetings only as specific CSC or GPSC needs arise, rather than on a regular basis. They will be available to attend regional ISC meetings. Decisions on frequency will be made in consultation with CSC co-chairs, as will the determination of how to attend: in person, by video conference, or by phone.
Will CSCs and ISCs have different GPSC representatives?
The core set of representatives will be the same for CSCs and ISCs. When possible, the GPSC co-chairs and Doctors of BC CPQI Executive Director Dr Brenda Hefford will endeavour to attend ISC meetings.
When will divisions learn who my GPSC representatives are?
This information will be shared prior to the changes being put in motion.
If divisions like their current GPSC representative, can they request no change?
Teams of GPSC representatives are being assigned by health authority region. In many cases the representative will change.
When will the changes take place?
GPSC meeting frequency will change after the November 20 and 21, 2017 meeting. There will be no meeting in December or January of 2018. Meetings will follow in February, May, July, September and November of 2018. As of early 2018, the committee will also adjust its approach to member representation at CSCs and ISCs.