President's Letter: Report on Primary Care Engagement
October 21, 2022
Report on Primary Care Engagement
Dear colleagues,
This summer, Doctors of BC invited family physicians and specialists to join us in a province-wide consultation on the future of primary care. Today, I am pleased to share with you the full report that summarizes your feedback. The Future of Primary Care: Doctors of BC Member Engagement 2022 provides insight into your views on the challenges we are currently facing, and your insights into solutions.
I want to thank all physicians who participated in this engagement—family doctors and specialists—for your eloquent and passionate contributions and for being courageous in sharing your stories and lived experiences. I am inspired by your commitment to your patients, and your strength as we navigate these challenging times.
One strong and resounding theme we heard is that you need to feel valued for the central role you play in your patients’ health journey, and that isn’t always happening at the current time. We have created a one-page summary of the most frequently mentioned solutions to our challenges, which include:
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Pay family doctors fairly and equitably for their work and time, and offset the rising business costs involved in providing longitudinal care.
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Offer optional, flexible, and simple payment options through improvements to fee for service with time modifiers and/or updated contracts.
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Reduce administrative tasks and forms.
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Increase access to locums.
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Increase supports for team-based care.
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Improve family physician and specialist collaboration.
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Modernize and centralize electronic medical records (EMRs).
Your input into this engagement has been critical in shaping the direction and outcome of our discussions with government toward a new payment model option for family physicians, which will incorporate many of your proposed solutions. We expect an announcement to take place very soon. Moving forward, your feedback through the engagements will continue to shape strategic policy, decisions, and actions to address ongoing challenges in our health care system.
Specialists update
This week, a Specialists Forum took place led by Dr Sam Bugis, Doctors of BC Vice-President, Physician Affairs and Specialist Practice. It included representatives from more than 20 specialties, Consultant Specialists of BC (cSBC), Specialist Services Committee (SSC), and Doctors of BC Board delegates. A presentation and discussion focussed on two topics: the gridlock in BC’s Emergency Departments, and specialists’ input into the Business Pathways program at Doctors of BC. Themes and innovative ideas emerged from the discussion on both topics.
With respect to advocacy for specialists and their patients, Doctors of BC and cSBC are in discussions with the Deputy Minister of Health to develop solutions to the many challenges experienced by specialists. Our second meeting is scheduled for next week.
I remain committed to ensuring open and transparent communications about the advocacy work we are doing in support of our profession, and will continue to keep you posted on developments.
Thank you for your ongoing commitment to your patients and their families.
Sincerely,
Dr Ramneek Dosanjh
President, Doctors of BC
president@doctorsofbc.ca
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