We are working with the BC College of Family Physicians to celebrate family doctors’ expertise in primary care. Our aim is to increase awareness about your value as a specialist in relationship-based, comprehensive, longitudinal care.
Whether you work in the community, are a hospitalist, addiction medicine, palliative, or maternity care provider, we are all family doctors. Whether you did a rotating internship or have your CCFP, we are all family doctors. Our expertise in primary care unites us all. We are specialists in family medicine. We are specialists in primary care.
Take action. Here is what you can do to lead the change:
- Let people know you are a specialist. Check off the word “specialist” when you are filling out forms or write in “specialist in primary care” or “family medicine”
- If you don’t wish to be referred to as a “general practitioner,” speak up when others use the term to refer to family physicians. Explain that family physicians are skilled specialists with an average of 11 years of training in relationship-based, longitudinal care.
- Use the below virtual background in meetings with physician colleagues, health authorities and other stakeholders to increase awareness about your role as a specialist in family medicine. (Use our guide on Changing your Virtual Background on Zoom, if you’re wondering how to do this on Zoom.)
Help us spread the word. Together we can build community and pride among family doctors by celebrating the value of family medicine.
Send us your feedback on the campaign. Let us know how we can support you in championing family doctors as specialists in primary care.
Note: At this time, we recommend that you do not identify yourself to patients as a specialist. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC) bylaw 7-4 relating to promotional activities indicates that a “registrant must not identify himself or herself as a specialist unless he or she has certification from the RCPSC or equivalent accrediting body approved by the board.” We look forward to working with the CPSBC to modernize our collective terminology.