It’s not just long hours or low pay driving family doctors away—it’s the mountain of paperwork. Every unnecessary administrative task takes time away from what really matters: patient care. With about 700,000 British Columbians still without a family doctor, we need to make sure doctors spend their time doing what they do best: delivering care, not filling out forms.
Dr. Maryam Zeineddin, president of B.C. Family Doctors, says cutting admin stress is a key element to keeping doctors in practice. The Colwood Health Clinic on Vancouver Island is proving it can be done.
The clinic introduced a team-based care model. Under the new Colwood model, the city employs doctors directly, providing pension and benefits—and takes on some of the paperwork associated with running a family medicine clinic. This approach makes the job more rewarding for doctors and ensures patients get better care.
Other provinces are stepping up, too. In Quebec, new legislation allows employees to take up to three days of sick leave without a doctor’s note. This simple change reduces unnecessary visits and lets doctors spend more time on meaningful care.
It’s time for B.C. to follow these examples. By reducing paperwork and providing better support, we can keep doctors in practice and improve care for everyone.
Help reduce admin headaches for doctors
The Doctors of BC Administrative Burdens Working Group (ABWG) wants to hear from community-based physicians about how notifications for lab results impact their practice.
They’re looking for 10-15 physicians from various specialties, especially those:
- Caring for unattached patients
- Working in walk-in or episodic care clinics
- Practising in multiple clinics
- Locum physicians
The meeting will be held on Zoom and will take about an hour. Physicians will be compensated for their time.
Email wyounas@doctorsofbc.ca to get involved.