An analysis of the development of a successful medical collaboration to create and sustain family physician anaesthesiology capacity in rural Canada.

BACKGROUND

Initial efforts to increase the availability of training positions, standardise training, and obtain national recognition for family physicians who wished to practise anaesthesia had stalled.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the work undertaken to create and sustain family medicine anaesthesiology capacity in Canada.

METHODS

In our review, we examined the critical aspects of successful intersectoral work, namely, involvement by key stakeholders; the development of decision-making mechanisms; clearly defined objectives, roles and responsibilities; official support and legitimisation from participating organisations and adequate resources for partnership building.

SETTING

Canadian rural family medicine anaesthesiology practice.

RESULTS

A small steering committee obtained funding for a national meeting of stakeholders and subsequent committee work over an 18-month period. The national meeting brought together the necessary stakeholders to review and discuss the issues and agree on a group-determined agenda, determine a work plan, identify priority areas and allow the College of Family Physicians of Canada to be the lead organisation in moving the work ahead. Within 18 months, the boards of the key organisations had accepted a common set of standards for training and a national curriculum. Work remains in the longer term to identify sustainable funding for training of family physician as well as the provision of continuing medical education for those trained.

CONCLUSIONS

Appropriate attention to the key components of successful intersectoral work may enable previously stalled and complex work to move ahead despite opposition.