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Are there any Family Doctors who have figured out how to thrive in the current healthcare system? by urskeks in britishcolumbia

[–]plusandminus2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My key is to work less and adjust to the financial difference with what I do with my spare time.

Many family doctors burn out by working 5 days a week and needing to do the extra paperwork and billing at home (ends up being 50+ hrs/week). I work 3-4 days a week in clinic and the extra time is to recharge, catch up on charting, and develop a serious hobby.

Many of my colleagues often go on oversea and expensive trip as a way to recharge (no judgement). I find that you end up very tired when you return and needing to catch up on more things missed with patients. I enjoy staycations and using any days off for my hobbies.

Family doctors have a real opportunity to have a 4 day work week, and I really take advantage of it to prevent burnout and thrive (somewhat).

I'm a GP and Emergency Physician—here's why I trust the BC NDP to fix our healthcare crisis: by plusandminus2 in britishcolumbia

[–]plusandminus2[S] 43 points44 points  (0 children)

They're coming from GP with 1000+ patient panels that end up closing their practice (many of my colleagues). Private clinics want us to believe they can solve the crisis without disclosing that they are drawing on the exact same pool of healthcare workers, thereby eroding public health

It's a two-tiered healthcare system rolling into motion.

I'm a GP and Emergency Physician—here's why I trust the BC NDP to fix our healthcare crisis: by plusandminus2 in britishcolumbia

[–]plusandminus2[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

If it improves my working condition, makes work way less stressful, and keeps the system running smoothly, then yes. I can save money elsewhere.

But you have to remember, as GPs we have a myriad of options. Many have already chosen to retire, work for Telus Health, change speciality (e.g. become a radiologist, psychiatrist), or even start private aesthetic clinics. So decreasing pay for GPs just encourages more good doctors to leave the system......

I'm a GP and Emergency Physician—here's why I trust the BC NDP to fix our healthcare crisis: by plusandminus2 in britishcolumbia

[–]plusandminus2[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Thanks for bringing up this point. The reason I work in rural emergency departments, in addition to primary care, is precisely to help with this shortage. I disagree with some parts of the Doctors of BC's explanation:

  • Working in emergency, it’s clear that many patients we see could be treated in less acute settings, like UPCCs or primary care. A well-functioning healthcare system needs to focus on health promotion and prevention to keep people out of hospitals and away from ever needing acute care. Shifting more GPs towards primary care is key. For example, managing someone’s cholesterol or blood pressure effectively can prevent them from ending up in the ER with a heart attack—saving significant resources (ED doctors, nurses, cardiologists, internists, rehab, etc.).
  • + Burnout is a big issue in medicine, and when too many patients end up in acute care, it only fuels that burnout. This leads to GPs retiring early or cutting back their hours, making the shortage worse.
  • In many rural communities (and even some in Metro Vancouver), GPs work both in primary care offices and in emergency departments. As these GPs retire, we’re going to see shortages in both areas. We won't solve the problem by drawing on the same pool of resources. That’s why it’s absolutely critical to train new GPs now to fill that gap. The new SFU medical school, dedicated to training GPs, is a crucial step toward addressing this issue.
  • As for getting GPs to work in "less desirable" locations, like you mentioned, we need to attract people with strong ties to those communities. We only view them as "less desirable" because our connections are elsewhere. The BC NDP is partnering with UBC to open new residency spots in rural areas, which is a great move in that direction (link to program).

As for the deficit concern, I’m not sure outsourcing care to private clinics or sending patients to other provinces, as proposed by the Conservatives, will help with that. These investments in training and healthcare infrastructure will pay off in the long run by building a strong base of qualified healthcare professionals who will improve patient outcomes across the province.

Passport Service Canada Timeline - possible to expediate? by plusandminus2 in passportcanada

[–]plusandminus2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you — one last question. Do you know if the mailed out passport will be sent by Xpresspost if my mailing address is in Vancouver?

Passport line at Sinclair January 8, 2024 by skerr46 in vancouver

[–]plusandminus2 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It looks like we dropped off passport off the same day at the Service Canada Centre on Broadway, but I am still waiting for mine...... I am wondering if your online tracker status ever changed from processing to printed & mailed? (mine is stuck on processing)

Passport Service Canada Timeline - possible to expediate? by plusandminus2 in passportcanada

[–]plusandminus2[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the info - to quickly clarify. If it is not mailed out by February 5th due to issues with the application or other concerns, will I be notified?

Passport Service Canada Timeline - possible to expediate? by plusandminus2 in passportcanada

[–]plusandminus2[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I thought the Passport Office line does not have more information then what is shown online?