A comprehensive assessment of National Health Program Guidelines in Canada: management review and redirections. Guidelines developed under the auspices of the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Advisory Committee on Institutional and Medical Services (ACIMS).

A comprehensive audit of the Health Program Guidelines in Canada was undertaken between January and September 1992. This review examined the strategic effectiveness and operational efficiency of the guidelines developed under the auspices of the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Advisory Committee on Institutional and Medical Services (ACIMS). To assess the perceived management utility of the guidelines, over 185 structured mail questionnaires were sent to a random representative sample of health care managers stratified by type of health-related organization and Canadian province and territory. With a response rate of over 80.5%, a profile of management perceptions of the need for the current Program Guidelines was created. In tandem an internal review of the efficiency and effectiveness of the design and development of the Guidelines was conducted using over 45 structured interviews with key informants. Both components of the comprehensive audit provided the basis of report recommendations that are relevant to the Canadian health system community.