Any family doctor leads right now?

[Minnie]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

The family doctor situation is a complete disaster, and unsustainable. It really is an embarrassment for the province. Living down in Lethbridge the estimate is that some 30,000 residents do not have a family doctor, thats about 1/3 of the population.

My husband has just been approached to possibly help open a business very near to Lethbridge. So, if we ended up moving down there, I think we'll have to keep our doctor here. 99% of our appointments are phone appointments anyway. We'd switch in a heartbeat if we could find a different doc, this guy isn't the greatest but finding someone to work with 4 of us, 1 of whom is high complex needs, tends to be an issue. With the high complex needs, it's vitally important that there is continuity in prescribing the same meds, rather than messing around with possible biases towards meds, that a new doc might have.

If we move, we'll probably keep him, do most appointments by phone and then book a day off once in a while and book everyone in and make it a travel day. Any acute issues will have to be dealt with at an urgent care centre, much like everyone without a doc is most likely dealing with their acute issues.

[Mccree]

https://cormed.ca/

My doctors clinic. She isn't taking new ones but there are accepting new patients with other doctors.

[Trojan97]

Any recommended leads in the SE lately?

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Trojan97

Any recommended leads in the SE lately?

We use a family doctor in the McKenzie Lake Clinic as of last year. It was pretty easy to get on the patient list, so maybe try them? The only issue is that the doctor we got assigned to , to put it bluntly, is a jackass and my wife absolutely despises going to him. Very condescending in tone, not helpful with his advice, and quite unprofessional when getting into debates with him. Had a few instances where I thought we were going to start chucking fists with each other and we almost walked out the most recent visit. Unfortunately we have no choice, as my family physician retired a while back and apparently I missed the window to get on his replacement's list. Definitely an adventure going to see him, but hey, he might have a few slots open .

[blankall]

I'm having trouble even getting in person appointments with doctors now. During the pandemic many clinics switched to phone/video visits, and they aren't switching back. I guess GPs get paid by the visit, and you can "see" more patients over the phone than in person?

I'm fine with this for most things, but I had a fairly serious respiratory issue and really had bad service until I was able to get diagnosed in person.

[Shazam]

Ah the usual I-Hate-Conservatives posters.

Hey what's happening in BC?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...tage-1.6427395

[Superflyer]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Ah the usual I-Hate-Conservatives posters.

Hey what's happening in BC?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...tage-1.6427395

What? Through the entire thread there is one person that criticized the government, immediately followed by a few posts saying this is happening across Canada, but instead you say, Why do you all hate the Cons!!! Look at BC!!1!

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by looooob

there was some attempted announcements a few weeks ago about adding a med school in Cape Breton too, although last I read they hadn't really bothered to run that by any of the people that would have needed to staff and or teach at it.


hmm just looked into it again and appears the NS gov't is full steam ahead with the plan


Funding, Plans for New Medical School Campus in Cape Breton - Government of Nova Scotia, Canada

The controversy with India may hurt these plans. Cape Breton University is arguably primarily set up to take foreign students and their money (>70% of students are foreign). But the region has no jobs for them, and when you combine that with political issues with India I could see that funding source declining quickly.

[Mr.Coffee]

Schools need to be letting more people in and loosening requirements. Bottom ####ing line. A “not-as-good” doctor is light years better than “no doctor”.

I don’t know what political pressure or whatever needs to happen for universities to figure it the #### out but it needs to be done, yesterday.

[shogged]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Schools need to be letting more people in and loosening requirements. Bottom ####ing line. A “not-as-good” doctor is light years better than “no doctor”.

I don’t know what political pressure or whatever needs to happen for universities to figure it the #### out but it needs to be done, yesterday.

One of the biggest roadblocks isn’t the number of qualified applicants, it’s the job shadowing after the fact. Not enough spots for residency as it is and no easy way to create more because the people that want to teach are already doing so.

[Fuzz]

It's not the schools, it's the politicians deciding on funding. Fortunately they finally put some money into this.



https://edmontonjournal.com/news/pol...er-three-years

[you&me]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Schools need to be letting more people in and loosening requirements. Bottom ####ing line. A “not-as-good” doctor is light years better than “no doctor”.

I don’t know what political pressure or whatever needs to happen for universities to figure it the #### out but it needs to be done, yesterday.

Is that really true?

I'm just imagining a scenario where a "not-as-good doctor" ####s something up to the extent that a "actually good" Dr. needs to fix the #### up of the "not-as-good doctor" and takes away availability for other patients.

The medical field - specifically doctors - is not one where I imagine just having "warm bodies" is a net positive

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by shogged

One of the biggest roadblocks isn’t the number of qualified applicants, it’s the job shadowing after the fact. Not enough spots for residency as it is and no easy way to create more because the people that want to teach are already doing so.

Well, maybe teaching should be mandatory? AKA hey, the province needs you, so this is a mandatory part of the job.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by you&me

Is that really true?

I'm just imagining a scenario where a "not-as-good doctor" ####s something up to the extent that a "actually good" Dr. needs to fix the #### up of the "not-as-good doctor" and takes away availability for other patients.

I'm not 100% sure, I'd have to go look at healthcare systems of other countries and evaluate entrance requirements for people becoming doctors and then quality and outcomes of healthcare delivery to contrast against Canada's super strict entrance requirements and woefully inadequate doctors situation.

But I'm willing to bet......

you are undoubtedly going to get more instances like you note there but the overall outcomes is what needs evaluation.

If we require a doctor to give a prescription for stupid #### that shouldn't require a doctor to give you a prescription for because of this weird funding model for doctors trying to make money on prescriptions, then we need more doctors. If we want higher quality doctors, then loosen up prescription requirements and let people just buy their topical steroids or asthma inhalers at the store without the ridiculous run-around we have in place now. Like, we can't have it all ways, this really isn't that difficult. Watch wait times for doctors reduce dramatically if you adjust what prescriptions are needed for even just a little bit.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by shogged

One of the biggest roadblocks isn’t the number of qualified applicants, it’s the job shadowing after the fact. Not enough spots for residency as it is and no easy way to create more because the people that want to teach are already doing so.

Two things that the government could do to alleviate the issue "quickly" are:

1. Create a system for job shadowing/residency that exist outside of private practice. Most law societies have done something similar by allowing lawyers to train at public institutions and free clinics. The experience from these clinics and institutions is often better than what they'd get with an unsupervised lawyer who has no training experience themselves.

2. Expand the role of and funding for RNs and Nurse Practitioners. We don't need to let in a bunch of questionable doctors, when we have experienced health care professionals already practicing. A nurse, no matter how qualified, shouldn't be taking over many roles of doctors, but they certainly have the ability to handle a lot of first line matters.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I'm not 100% sure, I'd have to go look at healthcare systems of other countries and evaluate entrance requirements for people becoming doctors and then quality and outcomes of healthcare delivery to contrast against Canada's super strict entrance requirements and woefully inadequate doctors situation.

But I'm willing to bet......

you are undoubtedly going to get more instances like you note there but the overall outcomes is what needs evaluation.

If we require a doctor to give a prescription for stupid #### that shouldn't require a doctor to give you a prescription for because of this weird funding model for doctors trying to make money on prescriptions, then we need more doctors. If we want higher quality doctors, then loosen up prescription requirements and let people just buy their topical steroids or asthma inhalers at the store without the ridiculous run-around we have in place now. Like, we can't have it all ways, this really isn't that difficult. Watch wait times for doctors reduce dramatically if you adjust what prescriptions are needed for even just a little bit.

They have done good work on this, pharmacists can do some prescribing, and I'd think something like a steroid cream is well within their abilities. I think a lot of people aren't aware you can get stuff like that without seeing a doctor.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

They have done good work on this, pharmacists can do some prescribing, and I'd think something like a steroid cream is well within their abilities. I think a lot of people aren't aware you can get stuff like that without seeing a doctor.

Personally, I think a huge part of the answer is way, way, way more Nursing Practitioners. Cost way less, excellent medical knowledge, can handle low level medical issues no problem. I believe a NP is only very marginally more than a Registered Nurse, so ridiculous less expensive than a doctor. Not as skilled or knowledgeable as a doctor, no doubt, but still very sufficient for so many medical issues.

Many things do not require expert doctors, yet we for some reason pretend they do.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

I'm not 100% sure, I'd have to go look at healthcare systems of other countries and evaluate entrance requirements for people becoming doctors and then quality and outcomes of healthcare delivery to contrast against Canada's super strict entrance requirements and woefully inadequate doctors situation.

But I'm willing to bet......

you are undoubtedly going to get more instances like you note there but the overall outcomes is what needs evaluation.

If we require a doctor to give a prescription for stupid #### that shouldn't require a doctor to give you a prescription for because of this weird funding model for doctors trying to make money on prescriptions, then we need more doctors. If we want higher quality doctors, then loosen up prescription requirements and let people just buy their topical steroids or asthma inhalers at the store without the ridiculous run-around we have in place now. Like, we can't have it all ways, this really isn't that difficult. Watch wait times for doctors reduce dramatically if you adjust what prescriptions are needed for even just a little bit.

There should definitely be a way to renew certain prescriptions without having to see a doctor every few months. I recently got a prescription for finasteride (for hair loss). If I want to get it renewed I have to return every few months and have a physical inspection.

.....strangely enough, it took me weeks to get an in person appointment for my respiratory issues, but only a few days for to inspect my hair loss?

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by blankall

There should definitely be a way to renew certain prescriptions without having to see a doctor every few months. I recently got a prescription for finasteride (for hair loss). If I want to get it renewed I have to return every few months and have a physical inspection.

.....strangely enough, it took me weeks to get an in person appointment for my respiratory issues, but only a few days for to inspect my hair loss?

Correct the prescription model is very insane. Like, obtusely idiotic.

I understand the concern for addiction (on SOME drugs...) or the desire for some doctors to follow up with patients and try to catch issues early on. That makes sense. But we have to make a decision, do we want this system? Yes? Make more people doctors. Do we instead want tighter restrictions for entry into med school so therefore theoretically better doctors? Then ease up on the prescription model or other things.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

Personally, I think a huge part of the answer is way, way, way more Nursing Practitioners. Cost way less, excellent medical knowledge, can handle low level medical issues no problem. I believe a NP is only very marginally more than a Registered Nurse, so ridiculous less expensive than a doctor. Not as skilled or knowledgeable as a doctor, no doubt, but still very sufficient for so many medical issues.

Many things do not require expert doctors, yet we for some reason pretend they do.

NPs are perfect for most front line issues. We already rely heavily on nurses as front line medical providers hospitals. A triage nurse will, generally, decide how urgent your issue is and what kind of expert you need to see. Once you are in care, it's largely nurses that will deal with routine issue and call for doctors as needed.

We need to expand that philosophy to clinics. Have the NP deal with primary issues, if something requires more expertise or looks more serious, refer the patient up the chain.