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The Medical Administrative Role of Medical Directors and Advisory Physicians in Ontario Nursing Homes and Homes for the Aged*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Cathy Charles ,
E. Ann Mohide  and
Marguerite Neimanis
Cathy Charles
Affiliation:
McMaster University
E. Ann Mohide
Affiliation:
McMaster University
Marguerite Neimanis
Affiliation:
McMaster University
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Abstract

A self-administered mailed questionnaire was sent to a stratified random sample of medical administrators in Ontario homes for the aged (HFAs) and nursing homes (NHs) in 1991 in order to explore the types and extent of medical-administrative activities undertaken by these physicians, and their perceptions of skills, attitudes and knowledge that were important in carrying out their roles. Three key findings emerged from the survey. First, considerable variation exists in the extent of medical administrative activities undertaken within each of the two facility types and, in some cases, across the two facility types. Second, there were few activities which ≥75 per cent of medical administrators reported undertaking on all occasions and many activities which ≥25 per cent of physicians reported not undertaking on any occasion. Third, in general, medical administrators did not express values congruent with adoption of a broader management role in facility administration, financing, and planning activities. Research and policy implications for the evolving role of medical administrators in NHs and HFAs are discussed.

Résumé

En 1991, un questionnaire a été posté à un échantillon aléatoire stratifié de médecins administrateurs de résidences pour aînés et de centres d'hébergement de l'Ontario, afin d'étudier les types et l'ampleur des activités médico-administratives que ces derniers doivent effectuer. De plus, le sondage visait à déterminer leurs perceptions des aptitudes, des attitudes et des connaissances dont ils doivent faire preuve afin de mener ces tâches à bien. Cette étude a révélé trois principaux aspects. Premièrement, il existe une importante différence entre l'ampleur des activités médico-administratives devant être effectuées au sein de chacun de ces deux types d'établissement et, dans certains cas, par les deux. Deuxièmement, peu d'activités sont rapportées par plus de 75 pour cent des edministrateurs et un grand nombre d'activités ne sont jamais effectuées par plus de 25 pour cent d'entre eux. Troisièmement, en général, les médecins administrateurs n'ont pas exprimé d'intérêt envers l'adoption d'un rôle de gestion élargi en matière d'administration d'établissements, de financement et de planification d'activités. Les auteurs traitent des conséquences au plan de la recherche et des politiques de l'évolution du rôle des médecins administrateurs au sein des résidences pour aînés et centres d'hébergement.

Keywords

Medical AdministratorsDirectorsAdvisory PhysiciansLong-Term Care FacilitiesNursing HomesHomes for the AgedCadres médicauxdirecteursmédecins consultantsétablissements de longue duréecentre d'hébergementrésidences pour les aînés.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 14 , Issue 4 , Winter/hiver 1995 , pp. 657 - 685
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1995

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