Reducing healthcare administrative burden is critical to helping physicians and other healthcare providers succeed and have more time to do what they do best: provide safe, reliable care to their patients and families.

On average, physicians spend an additional ten hours per week outside of their normal working hours on unnecessary administrative tasks, which contributes to a deterioration in their well-being.

To correct this situation and promote improvements in patient care and physician well-being across the country, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), MD Financial Management and Scotiabank are offering $10 million in funding through their Administrative Relief Grants program.

The program has generated significant interest. We have received more than 230 grant applications from across the country for initiatives to reduce paperwork and make processes and practices more efficient. Recipients of Administrative Relief Grants receive between $500,000 and $1,000,000.

To ensure its success, AMC has entered into a partnership with Health Excellence Canada (ESC), a non-profit organization that works with partners to disseminate innovation, build capacity and drive policy change so that everyone in Canada receives safe, high-quality care. ESC will provide grantees with its proven implementation approach, which includes coaching, targeted training activities, networking and knowledge sharing.

Within the framework of this cooperation, grant recipients can:

• Benefit from the support of specialists and a wide range of resources, including webinars, knowledge objects and peer networks, to implement your project and ensure its long-term profitability;
• Connect with other teams to share, learn, celebrate and build on successes;
• Access to best practices and evidence-based tools to close gaps and meet their needs;
• support their team in monitoring progress and evaluating success;
• share the results with others who want to help reduce administrative burdens.

The CMA will announce the recipients of Administrative Assistance Grants in May 2024.