Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to explore how four purposefully selected executive
directors of Community Care Access Centres (CCACs) understood the idea of
accountability, and how they viewed the accountability reforms that had been imposed on
their sector of health care over the previous three years. Data were collected through
personal interviews and a reflective journal. An analysis of key documents and the
reflective journal informed the data analysis. The findings suggest that executive
directors perceive that accountability relationships have shifted since reforms have been
implemented. They noted that CCACs have become more accountable to the provincial
government at the expense of accountability to the local community. From their
perspective, the demand for greater standardization and bureaucratization has left fewer
opportunities to adapt programs to meet particular community needs and has slowed the
ability to respond quickly to community inquiries and concerns.
