Here are guidelines and support to help family medicine groups (FMGs) embrace a culture of learning.
These guidelines and the Learning FMG Space are the result of scientific and consultative work designed to enable FMGs to evolve by drawing on evidence-based practices and the experience of their peer leaders.
The guidelines, model, and suggested materials help improve the achievement of the quintuple aim. For family medicine groups, these resources can serve as tools to enhance team well-being in the workplace, increase patient satisfaction, and support their professionalism in a changing environment that presents its own set of challenges.
Driven by its desire to support the deployment of a healthcare system that continuously learns and improves, the Unit undertook a consultation exercise aimed at developing a model that would be inspiring, useful and empowering for FMGs. Consulting physician Catherine Bouffard-Dumais and research coordinator Sophie Boies carried out the following steps:
- Consultation of some 40 experts and visits to 10 FMGs.
- In collaboration with Sara Ahmed’s research team, literature review on front-line learning culture
- World Café-type meeting bringing together all participants
- Drafting of orientations and development of a conceptual framework
We encourage wide dissemination of the Unit’s FMG learner guidelines throughout the health and social services network and in educational circles. We will take them into account in our work to redesign the FMG Program, as well as in the current revision of the primary care organization model. This document is a significant contribution to the deployment of a culture of continuous quality improvement and to the development of a learning healthcare system.
Philippe Lachance, Director, Access and Integrated Service Organization, Quebec’s Health and Social Services Ministry
“Learning FMG”: a supportive, practical, and evidence-based model
- Healthcare partner (patient, service user, family member, citizen)
- Researcher or research professional
- Healthcare professional
- Social services professional
- Decision-maker or manager
- Continuous Quality Improvement agents
- Family medicine clinic or family medicine group
The “Learning FMG” model provides a practical framework for fostering a culture of learning within FMGs.
The “Learning FMG” Space (which includes the model of the same name) brings together all the support activities and materials offered by Unité de soutien SSA Québec, designed to help FMGs implement the “Learning FMG” guidelines. You will also find a directory of resources for each dimension.
The Learning FMG is structured around seven dimensions:
- Foundations (participatory governance, leadership, and policies)
- Co-management
- Interprofessional collaboration
- Patient partnership
- Community and sustainable health
- ACQ, best practices, and data culture
- Knowledge development and dissemination
Co-managers have identified several challenges within their clinic
Team members show little engagement in meetings, and patients often express dissatisfaction. It is difficult for them to clearly identify the cause(s).
After reviewing the materials available on the Learning FMG Space, they decide to request support from the Unit to conduct the Governance, Interprofessional Collaboration, and Co-management workshop, in order to identify their team priorities.
After completing the workshop, the team knows its priorities and is supported by the Unit to address the challenges effectively.
Catherine Bouffard-Dumais and Sophie Boies, under the supervision of Antoine Groulx
Groulx, A., Bouffard-Dumais, C., Boies, S., Belval-Nadeau, V., Drolet, M., Lévesque, M. et Plouffe-Malette, M. (2024). Orientations for Family Medecine Groups. Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux. https://ssaquebec.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Learning_Family_medecine_Group_FMG_ssaquebec.pdf
L’Espace GMF apprenant (the Learning FMG Space is currently being translated into English.)
Groulx, A., Bouffard-Dumais, C., Boies, S., Belval-Nadeau, V., Drolet, M., Lévesque, M. et Plouffe-Malette, M. (2024). Espace GMF apprenant. Unité de soutien SSA Québec. https://view.genially.com/692efced3b599bca4eb8fe09