We need you on FPSC!
…FPSC). As a joint collaborative committee, the FPSC works with government, health authorities, and family physician organizations to strengthen community longitudinal family practice. The FPSC is an avenue for creating system change in primary care. It is a partnership between the Ministry of Health and Doctors of BC. BC Family Doctors nominates three of the Doctors of BC representatives. Learn more about the position and time commitment on the…
Emergency rooms aren’t the answer to primary care gaps
A new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) highlights a growing issue: more patients are visiting hospital emergency rooms (ERs) for conditions that could be treated in a primary care setting. Why is this happening? Many people don’t have access to a family doctor. Long wait times and barriers to virtual care leave patients with few options. As a result, emergency departments are under even more pressure. This is a fam…
Our 2025 rural healthcare wish list
…pport for healthcare teams. Strengthen recruitment and retention for rural healthcare Attracting doctors, nurses and other health professionals to rural communities requires a multi-pronged approach. From relocation bonuses to fair compensation models, we aim to ensure healthcare workers feel valued and supported. Cut down on administrative burdens Reducing unnecessary paperwork, like sick notes, and transitioning away from outdated technologies l…
Why medical schools need more rural students
…eflect the unique needs of these communities. Expanding interdisciplinary healthcare teams is also crucial. Social workers, mental health professionals, office-based nursing and specialized support staff are vital to alleviating the strain on rural physicians and enhancing the sustainability of rural practice. While competitive compensation is important, equally critical are team-based care models that comprehensively support physicians and patie…
More than medicine: the heart of rural family practice
…ogy in the North. Our patients travel hours for those services. That means health outcomes look different in rural communities. COVID made things worse. The human resource crisis hit hard, and we’re constantly trying to keep things running with fewer and fewer people. Watching colleagues burn out is tough. Shutting down the emergency department is devastating. And in a small town, it’s personal. If someone I know—someone’s grandmother, someone’s c…
Canada needs a plan to tackle our rural healthcare crisis
…RPC is calling for immediate federal action, including: ✅ A national rural health workforce strategy ✅ Funding for recruitment, retention, and rural physician training ✅ Federal tax incentives for healthcare providers working in rural areas ✅ Pan-Canadian licensure to improve mobility for rural doctors Without swift action, rural healthcare will continue to decline, affecting people in all communities—rural and urban alike. Read more about SRPC’s…
Rethinking family medicine: A better system for doctors and patients
…ions about the future of family medicine are accelerating, and family doctors play a central role in shaping what comes next. Read the full article on Healthy Debate: Family medicine is changing, and so must our health system….
Our Apology
…gret any harm or distress caused by the inclusion of Mercy Canada’s mental health program in our February e-Bulletin resource round-up. Our intent in sharing this resource was to provide information, not to endorse any organization’s broader beliefs or values. However, we recognize that the omission of a disclaimer failed to provide critical context regarding Mercy Canada’s publicly stated positions, which do not align with our principles of inclu…
Shape policy: Represent us on CHEP
…llenges and develop needed policy positions to chart a course for a better healthcare system? If you said ‘yes’, then we encourage you to put your name forward to be our BC Family Doctors’ representative on the Council on Health Economics and Policy (CHEP). This Doctors of BC committee assesses and develops fiscal, resource and program policies and position statements on a variety of issues. Positions open: • One BC Family Doctors representative (…
Have your say about the College’s proposed changes for US-trained physicians
…nt care and clarify billing. Take Action Email the College and Ministry of Health by May 7, 2025 with your thoughts about the proposed bylaw changes about USA-trained physicians. Email: bylaw29@cpsbc.ca and proregadmin@gov.bc.ca We ask that you include the following recommendations in your feedback to the College and the Ministry of Health: Create a multi-stakeholder working group to ensure that US-trained physicians are supported to work in BC wi…
COVID-19 Coverage
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New Hospital at Home Virtual Visit Fee
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Improve the future of primary care: OurCare survey
Access to basic health care is a struggle for millions of people in Canada, with over 1 in 5 unable to find a family doctor. The national OurCare Survey, led by Dr. Tara Kiran and the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, aims to change that. Conducted in partnership with the Canadian Medical Association, the research survey is seeking input from people across Canada about their experiences with primary care and improvements that can be made. O…
From Coverage to Care: Expanding Contraceptive Access in BC
…ionate contraceptive burden on those who can become pregnant. Reproductive health clinics and family physician consultants are critical for provision of challenging contraceptive procedures as well as care for medically complex and unattached patients. These physicians rely on fee-for-service billing which does not yet adequately support the time and resources required for complex contraceptive care. We’re working with the Ministry of Health to im…
Pathways and CHBC are hosting online child care resource session
Join Child Health BC (CHBC) and Dr. Tracy Monk, Pathways Physician Lead for a live 30-minute demonstration on integrating key parent and caregiver resources into your clinical practice. Topics include: Baby’s Best Chance Toddler’s First Steps Child Health Passport Safer Sleep for My Baby This session will show you how to share these tools with families and summarize any recent updates. The session takes place on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 from 1…
Leading foundational change through innovation and partnerships
…lify and align this payment model. New ways of thinking More than 50% of doctors in BC are family doctors. Your voice matters. As part of meeting our commitments to our members, we are supporting the Government of BC with key information about how to level the playing field for healthcare access and a future where healthcare delivery could be integrated with new housing. Looking ahead Clear, consistent engagement with our partners keeps you at the…
Simplified Fee Guide
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President
…m maternity doc to hospitalist; from surgical assist to clinic owner; from health authority medical director to providing house calls – I live in all these worlds. It’s why I went into family medicine. I want to do it all. Doing it all comes at a price. I have cried to the physician support program in my office while patients waited in the exam room because I had no more to give. I contemplated closing my longitudinal practice because it was no lo…
Our Team
…long with running her own consulting firm. She blends her expertise in the health system with a Masters in Health Administration with her communications savvy from a Bachelor of Journalism. As a social justice champion, she believes everyone deserves equitable access to high quality, patient-centered healthcare. Have a question for Penelope? Email her at Show email Alexandra Luongo Operations & Administration Coordinator Alex administrates the day…
Physician Quick Start to Virtual Care
The Doctors Technology Office has created a number of resources to help physicians and clinics quickly get started with virtual care. Their materials can be found here. A webinar was held on March 19 to discuss how to get going, best practices, lessons learned, etc. Watch for information on more sessions coming up. You can view a recording of the webinar here. The FPSC’s Practice Support Program team is also available to provide in-practice suppo…