Press release

CHUM: FMSQ Survey Results Unequivocal

Montreal, August 25, 2008 – The Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec (the FMSQ) has released the results of a survey of its members who practice at the three hospitals making up the Centre hospitalier de l’université de Montréal (CHUM) – i.e. Hôtel-Dieu, Notre-Dame and Saint-Luc. Many of the physicians specifically requested that the FMSQ take a position on this important issue.

“We preferred to have a clear picture of the situation before going any further.  That is why we asked an independent firm to conduct a brief survey of our members at the CHUM with respect to various issues affecting the future of the new CHUM facilities,” stated Dr. Gaétan Barrette, President of the FMSQ. “We know that there has been a great deal of concern about the future of this megaproject and its effect on specialized medical practice and patients’ access to care. The physicians surveyed are aware of project’s decline over the past few years, and unequivocally expressed their concern and confusion about its possible future”.

The survey was carried out in July, at the height of the summer season and at the very moment that the Minister appointed to Health and Social Services stated that there would be no change in the project now underway.  Despite his statement and the vacation period, 50 % of members who received the survey responded to it.

Survey results overview:

Project feasibility and credibility

• 98 % of the physicians surveyed have followed developments concerning the project, and 94 % of them had a particular interest in the location selected for the future hospital centre.
• 63 % believed that the CHUM facilities would not be inaugurated before 2017, and 37 % of those thought it would even be later in 2018.
• 54 % no longer believed in the project or had doubts as to whether they should lend it credence.

Present location of new CHUM facilities

• 58 % of physicians practising at CHUM hospitals considered that 1000 Saint-Denis is not the right place for the new project.
• 13% had no opinion.
• 29 % approved the current choice of 1000 Saint-Denis.
  

Location desired for the new CHUM facilities

• 47 % of physicians responding considered Outremont to be the best location for the CHUM facilities.
• 25 % supported the site at 1000 Saint-Denis.
• 12 % preferred the site at 6000 Saint-Denis (in Rosemont).

CHUM and its components

Number of sites

• 45 % of physicians surveyed believed that the CHUM would occupy two or more sites (12 % had no opinion).

Number of beds

• 55 % hoped the project would accommodate 900 beds or more; 32 % wanted 700 to 899 beds.

Location

• 64 % considered the proximity of the CHUM facilities to medical training centres as fundamental.

Practice at 1000 Saint-Denis

• 50 % of physicians surveyed indicated that practising at the new CHUM facilities would be disheartening if the site at 1000 Saint-Denis were to be selected; 10 % had no opinion.
• 42 % considered that if this location were selected, it would have a negative impact on their practice; 24 % had no opinion.

Relevance of a public stand by the FMSQ

• 64 % of medical specialists wanted the FMSQ to state its position on this whole issue.

“We wanted to know our members’ thoughts on this project, and their response was very clear. Medical specialists practicing in the CHUM hospitals are visibly dissatisfied and unhappy with current developments for a number of reasons. But the single fact that two-thirds of the specialists answering the survey asked that the FMSQ take a public stand on the matter leads us to believe that they may still be harbouring a faint hope –definitely the last vestige – that the situation can be rectified for the greater benefit of patients receiving specialized medical care at CHUM hospitals now and in the future,” stated Dr. Barrette.

Methodology

The webb survey was conducted by Ipsos Descarie from July 10-21, 2008.  Recipients were members of the FMSQ with a principal or secondary place of medical practice in one of the three CHUM hospital centres.

Respondents were selected using the FMSQ’s official data base.  They had to have an e-mail address or, alternatively, contact the FMSQ giving an e-mail address. The initial sample numbered 733 respondents. Of those, 672 already had an e-mail address (92 %); 61 did not.

The invitation to take part in the survey was sent out on July 10 via e-mail or postal service. The e-mail invitation included a direct link to the Ipsos Descarie Internet site. A reminder was sent out on July 15, and the survey terminated on July 21.

At that point, 333 physicians had replied, giving a response rate of 50 %. According to Ipsos Descarie, “this is an excellent result given the clientele addressed. Experience has indicated that it is extremely rare for this rate of response to be achieved with a professional clientele”.

The questionnaire contained some 15 questions, including sociodemographic data. The maximum statistical margin of error, with a confidence interval of 95 %, was 3.8 % 19 times out of 20.

The Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec numbers more than 8,000 members in Quebec, representing 35 medical specialties. It is the sole organization recognized by government with respect to negotiating medical specialists' collective agreements, and is also consulted on all aspects of the organization of medical care in Quebec.

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