Within the CIUSSS du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, a Territorial Department of Family Medicine has been established. This department is composed of all general practitioners who receive remuneration form the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) and practice in the region, including those who practice in a private professional office.
According to Article 417.1 of the Health and Social Services Act (S-4.2), within the power entrusted to the CIUSSS du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean and respecting the responsibilities of the organization on its territory, the Territorial Department of Family Medicine exercises the following responsibilities under the authority of the President and CEO :
- Make recommendations on the part of the Regional Medical Staffing Plan related to general practitioners, which must be developed according to Article 377 and, once the minister has approved the plan, ensure the implementation and application of the CIUSSS of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean’s decision related to this plan.
- Define and propose the regional plan for organizing general medical services, which must specify, by territory of the local health and social services network, the services provided from a private office, a local community service center, or an outpatient clinic of a hospital center operated by an establishment, the nature of existing and expected services in terms of accessibility and the care of various clienteles, and ensure the implementation and application of the CIUSSS of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean’s decision related to this plan.
- Define and propose a network for accessibility to general medical care that may include the integrated on-call network, notably through service agreements, inter-establishment pairing or partnership, on-call availability for services provided in long-term care centers and for the home support program, and ensure the implementation and coordination of the CIUSSS of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean’s decision related to this network all within the Regional Plan for Organizing General Medical Services.
- Make recommendations on the nature of general medical services resulting form priority programs and ensure the implementation of the CIUSSS of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean’s decision on this matter.
- Make recommendations on the list of particular medical activities covered by Article 361 and ensure the implementation of the CIUSSS of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean’s decision related to this list.
- Evaluate the achievement of objectives related to the Regional Plan for Organizing General Medical Services the part of the Regional Medical Staffing Plan related to general practitioners.
- Provide its opinion on :
- Any project concerning the provision of general medical services
- Certain projects related to the use of medications
- The establishment of service corridors proposed by the Integrated University Health Network.
- Provide its opinion on :
- Perform any other function assigned to it by the President and CEO of the CIUSSS of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean concerning general medical services.
When the department neglects to exercise the responsibilities outlined in paragraphs 2 and 3, the CIUSSS of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean’s Council of Administration may request the CEO to exercise them.
*Additionally, this regional plan for organizing general medical services must be consistent and linked with the services expected from general practitioners, to ensure complete coverage of the care and services required by the CIUSSS of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. General practitioners are required to ensure complete coverage of expected care and services.