Information contained in annual reports and from many other sources helps health authorities and the Minister make decisions about directions for future plans. Business plans and annual reports are key mechanisms supporting continuous improvement in the Alberta health system. As part of good business practice, health authorities should request business plans and annual reports from the organizations with which they contract. Contracts Responsibility and authority may be delegated or transferred from one individual or organization to another through, for example, a contract. A contract establishes legal duties between parties and provides each party with the right to seek legal remedies if the contract is breached.
Contracts allow flexibility in tailoring requirements to meet specific needs.
The elements underlying effective accountability relationships, discussed on page 8, are usually present in contracts. Monitoring Monitoring mechanisms provide assurance that reasonable levels of service are provided relative to expectations and resources used, and may also be used to monitor outcomes. Performance may be monitored through ongoing or ad hoc processes. Improved methods of monitoring are needed to ensure that timely information about performance is available and can be used to improve strategies and results throughout the health system. Such processes can be applied to organizations, facilities and services, and to individuals at the level of clinical or administrative decision-making.