Why MUSCO?
Q : What led to the creation of MUSCO?
A: Before MUSCO was launched, Mr. and Mrs. Saputo were considering the type of philanthropy they wanted to support. They were trying to think outside the box to increase the impact they could have on patients and families.
The Foundation had been approached by a number of institutions with similar goals. This led us to the realization that it was impossible for any one institution to find holistic solutions to today’s social issues. When MUSCO subsequently sharpened its focus on supporting children in need of complex care and their families through the involvement of three hospitals, it became clear to us that inter-institutional collaboration between physicians, nurses, specialists and other professionals was the key to our goals.
Q : Why focus on inter-institutional collaboration?
A : The desire to support inter-institutional collaboration stems from a commitment to efficiency and to an optimal benefit to families. In a healthcare system that often seems to be divided, with services sometimes being duplicated, it makes it more difficult for families to get the service they need.
When I attended one of the meetings of the working group for the Patient Trajectory project, I saw that the simple fact of talking and exchanging information made it possible for the various stakeholders to jointly identify redundancies in care pathways. These redundancies can represent a significant social cost for families and the healthcare system as a whole. Children are still receiving good care, mind you, but correcting these situations should be one of our greatest concerns.
Collaboration is fundamental. By bringing the right people together, it is easier to search for effective solutions and maximize outcome.
Q : What do you think is the biggest challenge for MUSCO? How can this challenge be overcome?
A : Finding ways to collaborate within a multi-institutional framework is a huge challenge. Partnership and outreach are ot necessarily a natural instinct. Teams at different institutions don’t always have the reflex to set common objectives. And many initially tend to prioritize their own interests.
To address this challenge, the Mirella & Lino Saputo Foundation encourages teams to include patients and families in discussions. This allows professionals to come together around a common vision: the well-being of children and their families. When this becomes the driving force behind their efforts, collaboration is a natural consequence.