mutual defence organization - TUUM EST

Secretary-treasurer/CEO s report
SECRETARY-TREASURER/CEO'S REPORT
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6
CHARTING A COURSE TO RENEWAL
As I write this report I have been serving as secretary-treasurer/CEO for
the past 10 months. And what an exciting 10 months it has been!
It's also been exciting for CMPA employees. Much was asked of
them in 2000 and, to the benefit of all members, they delivered.
The year began with a non-event: the Y2K rollover. However, the
readiness of CMPA staff for the advent of the new millennium served as
preparation for the advent of a more significant–and unexpected–event:
regional rating.
When our actuaries began investigating the possibility of regional
differences in the cost of medical malpractice protection in the fall of
1999, the CMPA had no idea what the results and subsequent impact
would be. When the results of their study were presented to Council in
February 2000, and the significant differences among regions in the cost
of compensating patients found to have been harmed by medical care
were realized, the decision was made to move to a new membership fee
structure that would reflect those regional differences.
Implementing regional rating
CMPA immediately began advising members that changes would be made
in their membership fees beginning in 2001, and member feedback was
sought through focus groups and a national survey. Aware of the potential
impact on members we set to work to create a regional rating structure
that would preserve the CMPA's national character while addressing the
current and possible future financial burden that higher costs would
impose on some members.
This challenge fell to an internal project team ably led by
membership services director Pierrette Downey. The team
developed and implemented business rules that allowed for a
smooth transition to regional rates. These rules will also ensure
accurate financial reporting (costs will be tracked by province)
and accountability, as well as ensuring that our members are
fully protected no matter what and where they practise.
Improving relationships with our partners in care and
compensation has been a personal priority since I became secretarytreasurer/CEO
in May 2000. The enormity of regional rating–a
fundamental shift in the way the CMPA has done business–led me
almost immediately to criss-cross the country to visit and speak with
many groups and medical organizations, especially those representing
physicians whose fees would increase. These meetings were sometimes
difficult, but an essential element of the CMPA's new commitment to
transparency in its operations.
I want to thank Dr Guy Lemay, associate secretary-treasurer, for ably
managing the day to day affairs of the Association during the countless
days I was on the road in 2000, as well as leading our efforts to address
the concerns raised in Quebec by the regional rating initiative.
Corporate renewal
Regional rating also drove a shift in the speed with which we
communicate. This is a particular challenge for an organization that now
has more than 60,000 members across Canada. Members were invited to
join a new fax/e-mail network to allow them to receive breaking news
more quickly. This effort may be perceived as a qualified success, as
e-mail cannot currently be used as a two-way communication vehicle.
However, that may soon change.
As Dr Thomas noted in his report, the CMPA is aggressively exploring
the use of technology to make our work–and therefore our services to
members–more efficient, effective and in tune with the e-business world
around us. (For example, next year many of you may receive this annual
report electronically.) This is part of a corporate review aimed at
re-engineering our programs, systems, support services and business
practices. This initiative looks
to the future but will be
The CMPA is aggressively
exploring the use of technology to
make our work–and therefore our
services to members–more
efficient, effective and in tune with
the e-business world around us.
firmly guided by the
traditions of our past. We will
report regularly to you on the
progress of this major project.