What is the health care policy known as "virage ambulatoire" in Quebec
and when did it start?

Hi all11best,

The health care policy known as "virage ambulatoire" in Quebec refers
to an  ambulatory or out-patient care approach to providing more
services outside of institutional settings and increasing the
integration of services. CSLC's (community health clinics) have been
part of the landscape in Quebec for decades but it was in the early
1990's when the government took a renewed interest in regionalized
health care with subsequent governments following suit.

"Virage ambulatoire is a term referring to the Quebec policy shift to
ambulatory care in the health care system (i.e. day surgery, early
hospital discharges), and is part of the Quebec health care system
reforms."
http://www.utoronto.ca/seniors/Montreal/finalReport_part1.pdf

"One of the current catch phrases on the lips of Quebec health care
officials is ambulatory care, or virage ambulatoire, an approach to
health care that aims to reduce hospital visits and stays -- and their
associated costs -- and which includes all types of services that are
provided on an out-patient basis."
"The roots of this new hospital and its philosophy of ambulatory care
go back over a decade."
McGill News, FALL 1998
http://ww2.mcgill.ca/alumni/news/f98/muhc.htm

"In 1991, the Liberal government passed new health and social services
legislation, which increased the number of administrative regions..."
"Following the arrival of Lucien Bouchard as Premier in January 1996,
... a general restructuring of the health and social services network
placed renewed emphasis on an ambulatory approach (virage ambulatoire)
to health care".
http://www.journal.law.mcgill.ca/arts/453silve.pdf

"In 1991, Quebec became the first province to embrace regionalized
health care delivery. The province created 18 regions, each with its
own board of representatives, to decide health care priorities in each
region."
"Quebec Health Minister Dr. Jean Rochon is pushing for a regionalized
health care system that favours ambulatory care, day surgery and home
care over hospital admissions and acute care in hospital."
© 1996 Canadian Medical Association (text and abstract/résumé)
http://collection.nlc-bnc.ca/100/201/300/cdn_medical_association/cmaj/vol-154/1755.htm

"The 'virage ambulatoire' (ambulatory care) policy instituted a few
years ago sought to provide more services in community settings versus
institutional settings such as hospitals."
Vol.2 No.2, February 6, 2001
http://collection.nlc-bnc.ca/100/201/300/cdn_medical_association/cmainterface/vol-2/issue-2/pdf/issue-2.pdf

I hope this helps. If you have any questions, or if this hasn't
satisfied your request, please post a clarification request before
rating my answer.

Thank you,
hummer


Google Search Strategy:

"virage ambulatoire" Quebec Health Reform
   Return pages written in English
   Return results from the site or domain .ca

It gave me enough to go on, but I would have preferred more exact
dates and some detail about implementation or lack of it.
Thanks.

Hi all11best,

I'm sorry to hear that you didn't receive the details that you were
hoping for. However, in the last paragraph of my answer you will find
"If you have any questions, or if this hasn't satisfied your request,
please post a clarification request before rating my answer." Your
short question, "What is the health care policy known as "virage
ambulatoire" in Quebec and when did it start?", does not indicate that
you need "exact dates and some detail about implementation or lack of
it." Had you used the "Request a Clarification" option before closing
out the question as I had requested, I would've done my best to find
the details you need.

Sincerely,
hummer