Note: This blog was originally published on the OMA website. It’s being reproduced here for those of you who do not access that site. I have also added commentary on the report about the growth in physician numbers.
Every health care journey is different, but they all have one thing in common. They all involve a doctor. There is nothing pleasant about getting hurt or getting sick. But in Canada, there is something extremely comforting about knowing that doctors are there for us in our time of need. Patients understand the value of doctors. They understand that it takes a doctor to diagnose the problem, determine the appropriate course of care and follow them throughout treatment.
Doctors have a minimum of ten years of post secondary education before they enter the profession. They continue to enhance their skills throughout their practice through regular education programs. This training and expertise are what differentiates them from other health care providers. Many providers play a critical role as part of an integrated health care team, but it takes a doctor to identify – and often deliver – the continuum of care needed.
Ontario doctors are on the front lines of our health care system. We care for 340,000 patients every day, and the health and well-being of those patients is our absolute number one priority. We know what is working within our system, and we know what needs to be fixed. We understand that changes being made to health care have to work for patients in real-life situations, and we understand better than anyone that cutting physician services means longer wait times and reduced access to care for our patients.
That last point is critical. Ontario doctors carry a heavier workload than doctors in many other jurisdictions in the world. We currently have 2.3 physicians in Ontario for every thousand people. Europe has, on average 3.9 physicians for every thousand people, with countries such as Sweden and Germany up over 4 (source: World Health Organization’s Global Health Workforce Statistics). Despite this heavier workload, and because of the dedication of Ontario’s doctors we still manage to provide the best possible care we can to our patients.
Not only do I want to preserve that, but I want to improve on that. While I’m grateful to see the recent report that suggests the number of physicians is increasing faster than the general population, we still have a long way to go. Europe also has many structural differences in how they deliver health care (some of which we should copy – a topic for another blog). But even with those differences, they need more doctors per capita.
Research has shown that a high quality health care system needs strong physician leadership. Specifically, physician leadership in terms of system design, governance, and implementation is vital. A doctor-led system that focuses on integrated care provides better quality at lower cost, and this is what we need to build in Ontario. The patient-centred system of the future, today.
Ontario doctors are willing to help build, and lead, the health care system that Ontarians deserve. A system that will improve patient care and health outcomes and reduce wait times. A system that will recognize and meet the needs of rural, Northern and underserved communities. And a system that removes unnecessary administration and red tape to enable more efficient and effective delivery of care. It takes a doctor to lead a patient throughout his or her health care journey, and it takes doctors to lead Ontario’s health care transformation. Because ultimately, there is no substitute for a doctor.
justanoldcountrydoctor 