Family Doctors Say: Canada’s ‘Wait Time Clock’ Doesn’t Start Ticking Soon Enough

(Toronto, November 2, 2006) -

The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) today released a report examining primary care wait times in Canada.  This report reveals that the shortage of family doctors is a major stumbling block to the timely delivery of both primary and more highly specialized care. 

A new Decima research poll commissioned by the CFPC also released today shows that many Canadians are still struggling to find a family doctor.  Approximately five million* Canadians (17 %) report they do not have a family doctor as their first point of contact when they need to access medical care.  Of these, almost two million (38%) have tried to find a family doctor in the past year, but failed. 

Each year millions of Canadians depend upon their family doctors to arrange referrals for them for more highly specialized services. Delays are experienced by patients waiting for such appointments and treatments.  For the millions of people without a family doctor and who need a referral, the wait times are even longer. 

“It is commendable that we as a nation are focusing on wait time guarantees for more highly specialized care,” says Dr. Louise Nasmith President of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. “But the fact is that the family doctor shortage impacts wait times to access primary as well as consultant specialty care.  Every Canadian should have the opportunity to have a family doctor.  Tackling family physician shortages should be the first step in any wait time strategy.”

“To date, governments have focused solely on measuring the last part of the wait time experience – the time between the patient’s visit with the consulting specialist and the completion of the more highly specialized procedure or treatment,” states Dr. Calvin Gutkin, CFPC Executive Director and CEO. “Wait time strategies need to address the complete patient experience.  If you ask most patients, the clock starts ticking when they see their family doctor or recognize the need to see a physician.”

In its comprehensive report, When the Clock Starts Ticking:  Wait Times in Primary Care , the CFPC offers recommendations on wait time benchmarks in primary care.  Among them the CFPC recommends the establishment of:

• a Primary Care Wait Time Alliance to study, develop and recommend primary care wait time strategies that ensure timely access to all levels of health care for all Canadians
• primary care benchmarks that define acceptable wait times for patients: to find a family physician; to be seen by their own family physician; and, to be seen by consulting specialists following referral from their family physicians

According to the Decima poll, two-thirds of Canadians believe that the federal government’s focus on just five key areas for wait time management (cancer care, cardiac care, cataracts, hip-knee replacements and MRIs/CTs) is too restricted and that other areas of equal or greater importance, such as children’s and mental health also need support.

“At the moment, many pieces of the wait time puzzle are missing,” says CFPC President-elect, Dr. Tom Bailey. “Medical concerns start and continue with a visit to the family doctor so it is important that this stage of primary care be factored into wait time benchmarks. The CFPC looks forward to working with governments and other health care organizations to address the issue of wait time benchmarks for primary care as well as more highly specialized care beyond the five areas currently identified.”

Further poll results are captured in the backgrounder attached.  The complete wait times in primary care discussion paper is available online at www.cfpc.ca

The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) is the voice of family medicine in Canada. Representing over 18,000 members across the country, it is the professional organization responsible for establishing standards for the training, certification, and lifelong education of family physicians and for advocating on behalf of family medicine, family physicians and their patients. The CFPC accredits postgraduate family medicine training in Canada’s 17 medical schools.

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*  Using the estimated Canadian population of 32 million (as reported by Stats Canada) the CFPC has inferred that based on 17% approximately 5 million Canadians are without a family doctor.

Survey Information:
Between September 14-17, 2006, Decima Research Inc. conducted a national telephone survey of 1,019 Canadians over the age of 18 years. This survey has a confidence level of +/- 3.1% 19 times out of 20.

Between September 20 to October 2, 2006 The College of Family Physicians of Canada conducted a random email survey of active CFPC members. Surveys were conducted in both English and French. Survey is accurate +/-4.7% 19 times out of 20.
 

For more information, please contact:

Kate Carroll
Environics Communications
(416) 969-2732 

Jayne Johnston
Communications Manager,
CFPC Quebec City Convention Centre, Media Centre
418-649-5240
jjohnston@cfpc.ca

For French inquiries:
Simon Falardeau
Capital Image
(514) 739-1188, ext. 31
sfalardeau@capital-image.com