Most Canadians have a family doctor, but ‘concerning gaps’ found
listen to this article
estimated 4 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.
A comprehensive new survey shows that more Canadians have a family doctor or nurse practitioner than three years ago, but satisfaction remains low.
An estimated 5.9 million Canadians Not there. Regular access to a primary care provider is projected to fall to less than 6.5 million in 2022, according to OurCare, a national project that defines good primary care and recommends policy changes to achieve it.
“It’s still a big number, but it’s a huge improvement at a time when we’ve actually seen some population growth,” said Dr. Tara Kirwan, a family physician and researcher who led the initiative from her base at St. Michael’s Hospital, part of Unity Health Toronto.
Kiran worked with the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) on the latest online survey of more than 16,000 Canadians, who were asked about their experiences with primary care, followed by panel discussions across the country when the project launched.
Now! 28 percent of respondents said they are satisfied or very satisfied with the way our primary care system works.
“For me, this is a huge call to action,” she said.
More than 1,000 people lined up in the snow in Walkerton, Ontario on Wednesday to try to get a family doctor – but only the first 500 made it through.
More than just being a doctor
It is not just about having a doctor, Kiran said, but also about providing timely, consistent, culturally safe, wellness-oriented and empowering care. patients need He said they have the necessary data and information to operate the health care system.
What will it take to improve this? Both Kiran and CMA indicated enhancing team-based careWhere family doctors and nurse practitioners cover for each other during the day and after hours.
In team-based care, the patient may also have a nurse, social worker, or pharmacist who work closely with the family doctor or nurse practitioner to take a holistic view of one’s health.
Ontario, Manitoba and Nova Scotia are among these provinces Kiran said where governments have invested in primary care teams, there are often clear expectations of what the public should be able to achieve.
Family medicine providers and patients are also struggling to access specialty care and diagnostics, Kirwan said.
The survey highlighted “regarding gaps in access”, with 37 per cent of respondents with a regular provider saying they could be seen the same day or next day for an urgent concern.
Access to health care is unsafe for anyone, said Dr. Sarah Cook, president of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, who worked with Yelloni.Fay and was not included in the survey.
Having an ongoing relationship with the family doctor will help patients share their health concerns more openly. This will also give doctors a chance to detect TB.Eliminates over time and offers preventive care and screening Before issues like cancer and mental illnesses become serious, Cook said.
“There are a lot of people in this country who have found solutions, who have innovated, who are providing really excellent primary care,” he said.
Practitioner burnout, excessive paperwork and training will help make family medicine more sustainable, Cook said.
The survey suggests that people in higher income groups, defined as having a pre-tax household income of $200,000 or more, have higher rates of having a regular physician than people in lower income groups.
