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LETTERS: Lee Mantini Interdisciplinary team approach to general practice in Canada BMJ 2008; 336: 1391-b-1392-b [Full text]

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interdisciplinary

Yann Leon Lefeuvre   (21 June 2008)

interdisciplinary 21 June 2008
Yann Leon Lefeuvre, Gp partner Burrage Road Surgery 213 Burrage Road SE187JZ Send response to journal: Re: interdisciplinary	Last month the French Medical journal Prescrire organised a three day conference about interdisciplinary care, with health professionals attending from Africa, Lituania, Belgium, Suitzerland, Canada, Algeria, Tunisia and France. The discussions were about how to interact amongst health professionals in the patient`s best interest. Projects from the above country were presented and discussed with some original work from association, empowering patients. In France, the vast majority of Gps practise as single-handed practitioners and practice managers do not exist. Interdisciplinary care comes from palliative care and is experienced around antenatal care and social care. The conference explored the theme from different angles: ethical, training, patients, and auditing point of view. Variations from the pathway may occur as clinical freedom is exercised to meet the needs of the individual patient. Integrated Care Pathways are important because they help to reduce unnecessary variations in patient care and outcomes and it is in France a change of culture. One difficulty is to incorporate local and national guidelines as well as government contracts into everyday practice, manage clinical risk and meet the requirements of clinical governance. Competing interests: None declared