Electronic health records need to support doctors, not slow us down
…r. Olivia L. Tseng and Dr. Esther Lee explain in a recent letter to the BC Medical Journal, EHRs are making life harder for many physicians. More administrative work Since the rollout of EHR systems like Cerner in hospitals across B.C., doctors are now taking on more administrative tasks that used to be done by other staff. With transcription services gone, doctors have to dictate or type reports themselves. Dictation software isn’t always accurat…
Primary care access: our veterans deserve better
…. The report revealed that without family doctors, veterans can’t complete medical forms needed for their disability claims and reassessments. This problem isn’t just affecting veterans; it’s happening all across British Columbia. Many people in our province also can’t find a family doctor, which means they can’t get regular healthcare, manage their health properly, or benefit from longitudinal, relationship-based care. What’s the solution? Attrac…
New Fees for CCFP-EM: Advice and Patient Follow-up
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Solving the family doctor crisis: my journey back to practice
…ope of practice. This collaborative care model enables doctors to focus on medical issues while other team members provide nursing, counselling and other care. For example, nurses could conduct home visits, reducing the burden on doctors and improving patient care. Nurse practitioners could see patients for community doctors when they are fully booked and help to address any urgent issues for physicians. The new LFP Payment Model is a huge step i…
Share your voice: Survey for clinical faculty members
…mpensation for clinical teaching The impact of the Simon Fraser University medical school Concerns about physician safety Other issues of importance, such as administrative burden All clinical faculty members are encouraged to participate in the 15 minute survey, sent out via email on November 12 by Doctors of BC. The deadline to participate is midnight on December 2, 2024. If you have any questions, or have not received the survey link, please re…
BC doctors call for an end to sick notes
…tes also create unnecessary strain on the health care system. The Canadian Medical Association estimates that eliminating unnecessary sick notes could prevent up to 12.5 million unnecessary interactions with the health care system each year across Canada. This change would free up doctors’ time and improve access for patients with health concerns. Making employees get sick notes for minor illnesses isn’t just a waste of time—it’s an equity issue….
2024 Wrapped: gratitude, growth and looking ahead
…in an organization that cherishes each family doctor’s role across various medical fields. As 2024 comes to a close, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you and encourage you to stay engaged—our collective voice is what drives meaningful change. At our recent board meeting, we approved our 2025 budget to prepare for the year ahead. We’re excited to launch our rural campaign, highlighting the challenges faced by rural family doctors. Buildin…
WorkSafeBC – How to Bill a Form 8
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Mind the care gap: the highs and lows of rural family medicine
…ubation/ventilation. There was no ventilator on-site, and the weather made medical evacuation impossible. For nearly 18 hours, my team and I ventilated the patient by hand, improvising with the limited medications available and consulting with a specialist by phone. It was one of the most challenging and exhausting moments of my career, but it demonstrated the resilience and teamwork that define rural medicine. In another community, I had to deliv…
WorkSafeBC – How to Bill a Form 11
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Our new report highlights success of LFP Payment Model
…,001 new family doctors ✅ Nearly 250,000 patients connected to care ✅ More medical students choosing family medicine The LFP Payment Model values the time and expertise of family doctors, ensuring they can focus on comprehensive, relationship-based care. It has already had hundreds of improvements. In 2024, it expanded to recognize the critical role of family doctors in hospitals and long-term care, strengthening the healthcare system as a whole….
Key takeaways from our meeting with Health Minister Josie Osborne
…engthening primary care in B.C. Our president, Dr. Maryam Zeineddin, chief medical officer Dr. Renee Fernandez, and executive director Alexa Pitoulis had a productive conversation with the Minister about the challenges family doctors face and how we can work together to improve patient care. Celebrating the LFP Payment Model We thanked the minister for her support of the Longitudinal Family Physician (LFP) Payment Model, which has helped stabilize…
New Fee: Management of Stillbirth
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Fee-for-Service: New Fee for Family Conferences
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Small towns big impact: Why I chose a rural residency
Dr. Nicole Minielly (family medicine resident) During medical training we complete rotations in rural communities. The diversity of practice in family medicine, especially in rural settings, immediately drew me in. I loved the idea of working in different spaces — seeing patients in a clinic, caring for them in a hospital, assisting in the emergency room and even doing maternity care. No two days are the same, and that variety keeps me engaged an…
Fixing Canada’s doctor shortage: What needs to change
…happen. 1. Train more doctors Canada simply isn’t training enough doctors. Medical schools need more seats, and residency programs need more spots. Offering tuition support or loan forgiveness for doctors who work in high-need areas could also help bring care where it’s needed most. 2. Make it easier for internationally trained doctors to work Canada has thousands of highly skilled doctors who immigrate here but can’t practice because of complicat…
Why we need team-based care
…nough family doctors to meet the needs of our growing population. A new BC Medical Journal article explains why team-based primary care is a key solution to our health human resource shortage and central to building a thriving and sustainable future for our healthcare system. Canadians want a relationship with a primary care provider who works in a team with other health professionals. That’s one of the key findings of the OurCare initiative, a na…
Increases to the LFP Payment Model from the 2022 PMA
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Sick notes for short absences to be scrapped!
…n unnecessary administrative tasks and more time with patients who require medical care Patients can stay home and recover, where they need to be when ill, rather than travel to a doctor’s office for a sick note The primary care system will strengthen as family doctors spend more time on what matters most – providing care for existing and new patients BC Family Doctors, Doctors of BC and BC College of Family Physicians have long advocated for the…
Nominate a Colleague for a Doctors of BC Award
…your help! If you know a colleague or mentor who has made a difference, a medical student or resident who advocates for a stronger healthcare system, or an individual or group working to make BC a healthier, safer place to live, then please consider nominating them for a Doctors of BC award. More information can be found on Doctors of BC’s Awards for Physicians and Awards for Residents, Students, and Community webpages. The nomination deadline is…