Québec Medical Association Initiative - A delegation of the main medical stakeholders in Québec is off to New Hampshire on a mission to discuss best practices related to overdiagnosis

MONTREAL, Sept. 9, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - On the initiative of the Québec Medical Association, presidents and/or executives of the main medical organizations in Québec are leaving for Hanover, New Hampshire, today to talk to their counterparts from Australia, England and the US about best practices at the Preventing Overdiagnosis conference (conference Web site) that will take place from September 10 to 12.

The purpose of this mission from Québec is to find out about the latest work on overdiagnosis around the world, and the strategies proposed to address this phenomenon.

The delegation consists of presidents and/or executives of the following organizations:

• Québec Medical Association
• Association québécoise d'établissements de santé et de services sociaux
• Association des conseils des médecins, dentistes et pharmaciens du Québec
• Institut national d'excellence en santé et en services sociaux
• Institut national de santé publique du Québec
• Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec
• Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec
• Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec
• Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec

The mission was set up by the Québec Medical Association as part of the approach launched on April 8 as it was addressing the urgent need to optimize clinical practice in order to redirect approximately $5 billion to those activities that are most useful and relevant to patients (press release and discussion paper).

"To our knowledge, this is the first time that doctors, nurses, pharmacists, health system managers and Québec government authorities are mobilizing their efforts to advance the thinking and action aimed at optimizing clinical practice," stated Dr. Laurent Marcoux, President of the Québec Medical Association. "As we said last April, eliminating overdiagnosis and overtreatment at all levels in the health care system would save the Québec government an estimated $5 billion, thereby freeing up human and economic resources in order to offer better quality care and greater access to this care. The mission to New Hampshire will give delegation members a chance to identify the best professional health care practices and to adopt the best strategies for fostering them in the community to enable these practices to be implemented in the Québec system."

About  the QMA

The QMA comprises some 10,000 general practitioners, specialists, residents and medical students. Its mission is to bring together members of the Québec medical community in a context that promotes reflection and action in the best interests of the health of Quebecers.

SOURCE: QUEBEC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Denise Pelletier
Communications Coordinator
Québec Medical Association
Telephone: [phone]
Toll-free number: 1 800 363-3932
E-mail: [email protected]