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COMMENTARY: The reality of family medicine has changed. The health system has to keep up.

Thu, 02/06/2025 - 04:00

In Walkerton, Ont., a new family medicine practice accepting patients drew a line of hundreds of people, some waiting in the cold as early as 2 a.m. One person described securing a family doctor as “winning the lottery.”

A new study from Health Canada says we are short a jaw-dropping 23,000 family physicians in this country. We need more doctors – especially in primary care. But that alone won’t solve the system-wide capacity issue we’re facing. We need to scale up new models of care in which health professionals support each other in coordinated, cooperative teams.

Last week, I was in Halifax, where Canada’s health ministers met to discuss our country’s health care needs. Organizations representing Canada’s physicians and nurses came together to highlight that first and foremost, health care is a human resources system – one where we can’t afford to lose any more caregivers. Supporting, retaining and investing in health-care workers is crucial.

The federal government has taken a step in the right direction with a new interpretation of the Canada Health Act. In a letter in January, federal Health Minister Mark Holland clarified that provincial/territorial health insurance should cover medically necessary care from nurse practitioners, midwives and pharmacists as well as physicians. 

Language such as “physician-equivalents” included in the interpretation letter is causing confusion and should be clarified. Doctors play a unique role in our health-care system that can’t be duplicated. Simply asking provinces and territories to foot the bill for more siloed, fragmented health services will not address the access-to-care gap plaguing the health system either.

But while the role of family doctors is a fundamental part of primary care, not every problem requires a family doctor, whether it’s managing certain chronic illnesses or refilling specific medications. Working together in teams, health providers can optimize resources – easing the pressure on physicians and the larger public system, while responding to community needs.

It’s important that Minister Holland reiterated that charging patients for medically necessary health services will result in financial penalties for provinces and territories. Patients shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket to work around a struggling health system.

In fact, on a cross-country listening tour about the balance of public and private health care in Canada, the consensus was that access to health care, regardless of the ability to pay, remains a bedrock value. And Canadians are ready for more team-based primary care. In a national survey conducted by OurCare, 90 per cent of respondents said they’d be comfortable seeing another member of a health-care team if a doctor or nurse practitioner recommended it.

Eradicating lineups like the ones in Walkerton requires urgent action on many fronts. This includes funding digital solutions to assist clinicians in their work and ensuring we can access critical health information across systems. It also includes improving doctors’ mobility through pan-Canadian licensure, reducing the administrative burden placed on family doctors, and greater accountability.  

Opening the door to publicly funded, team-based primary care where all professionals are recognized is a welcome start. Now urgent investment is needed to make this standard practice, so every Canadian can be assured access to a primary care team.

It’s time to break down the siloes in health care and focus on collaboration instead. No one wants to leave patients out in the cold.

Dr. Joss Reimer is president of the CMA. 

This op-ed was originally published on Healthy Debate.

Categories: Medical News

Attacks, abuse of health workers must not be tolerated: CMA, CNA, CFNU

Wed, 02/05/2025 - 04:00

The reprehensible assault of health workers in Halifax last week is a harsh reminder of the dangers health professionals across Canada face while trying to provide quality care to patients. 

This latest example may be an extreme case, but the sad reality is that doctors, nurses and other health workers are subject to verbal and physical abuse on a daily basis. The results from the Canadian Medical Association’s (CMA) 2021 National Physician Health Survey found that eight in 10 physicians have experienced intimidation, bullying and/or harassment in the workplace at some point in their careers. Four in 10 reported that these experiences happen “frequently” or “often,” with women significantly more likely to say they happen at least once a week.

A recent national review of workplace violence reports highlighted that incidents against nurses have become more severe and frequent in recent years, often resulting in physical and psychological harm. Legally, workplace violence is classified as both a health and safety issue and a criminal offense in Canada. In Alberta, reports of violent incidents in health-care settings surged by 37% between 2019 and 2021.

We also acknowledge that toxic online behaviour increasingly manifests in real life. With influential figures normalizing the use of threats and bullying, it is unsurprising that these behaviours are being echoed in health-care settings. But hospitals, medical clinics and other health care facilities simply can't tolerate this - people's health and lives are at stake.

In 2021, the federal government responded to calls for help from the CMA, the Canadian Nurses’ Association (CNA) and the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) with legislation that made it illegal to use threats and bullying to stop a health worker from providing care to patients. It also prohibits actions that would prevent a person from obtaining health services or accessing health facilities.

We urge the public to respect these laws and call on public safety and law enforcement officials to continue their vigilance in enforcing them.

Our thoughts are with the victims of the senseless assaults in Halifax and their families.  

Dr. Joss Reimer
President, CMA

Dr. Kimberly LeBlanc 
President, CNA

Linda Silas
President, CFNU

Categories: Medical News

Feds listening to Canadian doctors’ concerns on capital gains, CMA welcomes deferral of measures

Fri, 01/31/2025 - 04:00

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is pleased to see the federal government deferring the implementation of the capital gains inclusion rate increase, as its impact on the medical profession remains of deep concern. 

Because doctors – especially community-based physicians – generally don’t have an employer, they need to create a medical corporation to cover operating costs like office rent, medical supplies, nursing and office staff. It has become clear through the CMA’s advocacy over the past year that many policymakers had not understood the serious unintended consequences of these changes for much of the physician workforce. We are pleased that the federal government has listened to our concerns. We will continue to work with officials to ensure that, if and when this measure is re-introduced, physicians and medical corporations are excluded from its provisions.

Today, 6.5 million Canadians do not have a primary care provider. Health care providers are doing their best to ensure Canadians have access to the care they need in a timely fashion. We need to keep our focus on finding ways to grow the health workforce and improving access to care. 

With the government recognizing the adverse consequences of these measures, we call for a permanent repeal providing the long-term clarity that is required to stabilize our health workforce.  

Dr. Joss Reimer
President, CMA

Categories: Medical News

Ground-breaking new report reveals Canada can’t train enough doctors and other health professionals. Unless we dramatically change how we do things.

Fri, 01/31/2025 - 04:00

As the health ministers met in Halifax over the past few days, the federal government released the first detailed report on the gaps in the health care workforce and the data lays bare the extent of the issue. 

This in-depth study, conducted by Dr. Geneviève Moineau, Chief Medical Workforce Advisor, Health Canada, points to Canada's considerable lag in workforce planning compared to its OECD peers as well as the negative impacts of this inattention:

  • With the 2023 OECD average number of new graduates at 14.2 per 100,000 population, Canada is at the bottom of the pack, producing 7.5 new doctors per 100,000 people with only Japan, Korea and Israel lagging behind 
  • There is currently a deficit of 22,823 between supply and demand for family physicians in Canada, and only approximately 1,300 new graduates per year. At this rate, Canada will never solve the existing physician shortage

This sobering study reinforces the Canadian Medical Association’s (CMA) long-standing advocacy on the shortage of family physicians, the challenges specific to rural care and the disparities of care for Indigenous peoples. These new figures validate the severity of the situation.

We endorse the report’s themes about modernizing education, training, and data. Resolving the physician and health provider shortage will require Canada to act more quickly, do more and leverage the expertise already available.

In doing so, we must ensure that we are not overburdening our healthcare providers. These solutions need to be implemented now and must focus on retention and recruitment of health professionals. Solutions include:

  • Adopting team-based care as the main model of primary care across the country
  • Eliminating time-consuming and repetitive administrative tasks
  • Embracing new technologies, such as AI to streamline administrative tasks and enhance patient care
  • Connecting all point of care to empower patients with their health information and streamlining inter-connectiveness between providers
  • Supporting and investing in virtual care within the publicly funded system

The CMA will be bringing this crucial report to provincial and territorial medical associations as well as other health system partners. We will also be calling all parties in this year’s federal election to act on this issue. Leaders can no longer look away.

This report should be the last of its kind. From now on, let’s move from studies to action so we can see real change take place. 

Dr. Joss Reimer
CMA President

Categories: Medical News

Memo to the Ministers: health professionals offer practical solutions to stop the bleeding

Wed, 01/29/2025 - 04:00

As Canada’s health ministers meet today and tomorrow, organizations representing the country's nurses and physicians are unanimous: governments must do everything in their powers to support health care workers and keep them caring for patients.

The recent federal interpretation letter is a step in the right direction to encourage collaboration between health providers and incentivise the creation of team-based care. When health professionals work together and fully utilize their knowledge, skills and expertise, they can care for more patients, share workloads, and improve the overall experience for both patients and providers. But there is more work to do to retain and support these dedicated professionals.

The health care system is first and foremost a human resources system, and only a healthy workforce can deliver a healthy system of care. While recruitment is part of the solution, it won’t solve the issue on its own. We must take care of the people that are already in the health system so that they can keep caring for Canadians.

We urge health ministers to implement the following solutions:

  • Implement team-based care as the main model of primary care across the country, optimizing every health professional’s contributions to improve access and patient outcomes
  • Work toward eliminating time-consuming and repetitive administrative tasks
  • Optimize the use of evolving technologies, such as AI to streamline administrative tasks and enhance patient care
  • Connect all point of care to empower patients with their health information and streamline inter-connectiveness between providers
  • Support and invest in virtual care within the publicly funded system
  • Improve accountability and transparency in the health care system so that Canadians better understand how their health dollars are being spent

While this meeting is critical to advance the country’s health care needs, we reiterate the importance for decision makers to keep communication channels open throughout the year in order to build collaborative relationships.

Quotes

“People are the most important element of the health ecosystem. Supporting, retaining and investing in health care workers and helping them thrive at work is crucial to delivering quality care for Canadians. We cannot afford to lose more caregivers.”– Dr. Joss Reimer, President, Canadian Medical Association

“Canadians are counting on us to ensure they have the care they need. From the decision makers to the health care providers, we have a responsibility to work together to protect and enhance our public health care system.” – Linda Silas, President, Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions

“With six million Canadians lacking access to a regular family doctor, we are at a critical juncture for our health care system. We need bold action to reduce barriers and invest in solutions that make Canada’s health care system stronger and more sustainable. ”– Dr. Carrie Bernard, President, College of Family Physicians of Canada

“Canada’s health system thrives when every health professional works to their full potential within team-based models of care. By working together collaboratively and optimizing skills and collaboration, we can ensure Canadians receive the care they need, when and where they need it.” – Dr. Kimberly LeBlanc, President, Canadian Nurses Association

Categories: Medical News

CMA alarmed by Alberta pandemic task force report

Mon, 01/27/2025 - 04:00

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) endorses the Alberta Medical Association’s concerns about the report from the Alberta COVID-19 Pandemic Data Review Task Force. This report promotes misinformation and has the potential to create mistrust of the medical and scientific communities.

Canada is in the middle of a health care crisis, where 6.5 million Canadians do not have regular access to a primary care provider and those who need care are often waiting far too long to receive it. It’s estimated that 650,000 Albertans currently do not have a primary care provider. 

At a time when health care access is scarce and misinformation is leading some Canadians to make desperate, potentially dangerous health choices, we call on governments to focus on connecting patients to the quality care they need and to uphold science and evidence-based medicine as a cornerstone of that care. 

Dr. Joss Reimer
President, CMA

Categories: Medical News

New CMA survey links lack of access to health care to growing health misinformation risks

Tue, 01/21/2025 - 04:00

A growing number of Canadians are encountering health misinformation, with significant consequences for their health, according to a new survey commissioned by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).

The 2025 CMA Health & Media Annual Tracking Survey, conducted by Abacus Data, revealed that 37% of Canadians say they’re left with no choice but to seek health information online because they don’t have access to a doctor. And 23% report they have had a negative health reaction from following online health advice. An increasing number of Canadians (43%) also say they are experiencing mental distress or increased anxiety due to misinformation. 

The CMA is concerned that social media algorithms designed to drive the platforms’ engagement end up pushing misinformation into people’s feeds – whether users want to see it or not. As this study shows, what’s good for Big Tech’s bottom line is not good for Canadians’ health.

“About 6.5 million Canadians don’t have a primary care provider, and that is pushing people to find solutions to their health problems on their own, online,” says Dr. Joss Reimer, CMA president. “We’re calling on all social media platforms to take accountability for the impact misinformation is having on the health of Canadians and take immediate action to stop it.”

Additionally, 43% of Canadians are highly vulnerable to believing misinformation, according to the CMA survey, while an additional 35% are moderately susceptible. According to the survey, most Canadians feel that access to trusted health information empowers them to stay well-informed and better combat the spread of misinformation

The CMA has also been calling for health care reform, including team-based care, reduction of administrative work for physicians and pan-Canadian licensure as means to ease the burden on physicians and increase access to care for Canadians across the country.

Enhancing the quality and availability of accurate health information in Canada is crucial to combatting misinformation. The CMA is making a difference through initiatives like Healthcare For Real, funding of health journalism initiatives, and supporting physicians who share trustworthy information online.

Dr. Joss Reimer will discuss the results further during a conversation on the state of Canada’s information environment at the Canadian Club in Toronto on January 21. Register to attend virtually for free here.

Categories: Medical News

Medical associations call for halt to capital gains increase

Wed, 01/15/2025 - 04:00

The presidents of national, provincial and territorial medical associations are once again calling on the federal government to halt an unapproved increase to the capital gains inclusion rate for medical professional corporations. 

“On behalf of Canada’s doctors, we urge government to direct the Canada Revenue Agency to stop collecting taxes on capital gains from medical corporations at a higher inclusion rate, providing much needed clarity and abandoning this harmful tax measure,” reads a letter addressed to Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc from the presidents of 10 medical associations across Canada. 

“Changes to the capital gains inclusion rate have caused a retroactive increase in tax on the retirement savings of mid- to late-career doctors and will serve as a disincentive for new graduates considering community-based practice. And unlike the rules for individuals, there is no $250,000 capital gains exemption for physicians. This increased tax applies to the first dollar.

“When 6.5 million Canadians do not have regular access to primary care, emergency departments are routinely overwhelmed and surgical backlogs are commonplace, we must not create more roadblocks that will add further stress to the health workforce or prevent prospective physicians from choosing to practise in Canada.”

The letter to the federal government was signed by the presidents of the Canadian Medical Association, Alberta Medical Association, Doctors of BC, Doctors Manitoba, Doctors Nova Scotia, the Ontario Medical Association, the New Brunswick Medical Society, the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, Saskatchewan Medical Association and the Yukon Medical Association. 

To read the full letter, please click here
 

Categories: Medical News

Canada Health Act clarity a positive step to improve equitable access to care: CMA

Fri, 01/10/2025 - 04:00

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) welcomes the clarity that the federal government brought today to the Canada Health Act and agrees that all primary care medically necessary services should be publicly funded within a team-based approach. 

The CMA conducted an extensive, nationwide consultation in 2024 on health system funding, hearing from more than 10,000 physicians, patients and key health care stakeholders. Through these discussions, a consensus emerged that medically necessary care should be based on patients' needs and not on their ability to pay. 

Our focus must be on ensuring that all Canadians have equitable access to high quality health care. Today, 6.5 million people do not have regular access to a primary care provider. Emergency departments are routinely overwhelmed and under-resourced. Surgical backlogs are commonplace.  

We must work together to increase capacity in the health system to ensure that patients receive the care they need in a timely fashion and that health care providers can work together in a team-based environment.  

We are pleased with the direction that the federal government has provided regarding the Canada Health Act, and we urge governments to eliminate any ambiguity that allows for fees to be passed onto patients, full stop.  

The CMA encourages similar clarification on the provision of virtual care services, and we remain available to work with policymakers on this issue and other solutions to improve access to primary care. 

Dr. Joss Reimer
CMA President 

Categories: Medical News

Drop capital gains plans, focus on real health issues: CMA

Wed, 01/08/2025 - 04:00

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is calling on the federal government to immediately direct the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to stop collecting taxes on capital gains from medical corporations at a higher inclusion rate that was never approved through legislation. 

While it may be standard, acceptable practice for the CRA to administer new tax proposals before they are approved by government, Parliament’s prorogation and a federal election in the near future suggest it is increasingly unlikely that this legislation will ever pass.

The CMA firmly believes that the increase to the capital gains inclusion rate for medical professional corporations creates yet another barrier to retaining and recruiting physicians in a time when our health system is already under significant strain and Canadians are struggling to access care in a timely fashion. 

It’s important to understand why these changes are so alarming to Canada’s physicians. Community-based physicians not only pay income tax but also spend as much as 40 per cent of their gross income on essential overhead costs like staff, medical supplies and office space. Physicians don’t have the ability to simply increase their fees to make up for tax increases or inflation as it relates to their overhead, as other professionals may be able to. They work for the public good with fees that are regulated by provincial agreements. 

Compounding these concerns, physicians expend millions of hours annually on unpaid and unnecessary administrative tasks, contributing to burnout and reduced clinical hours. Finally, community-based physicians have to invest their own money into pension products or other forms of savings to support themselves in these areas that are now being taxed at a higher rate.

Today, 6.5 million Canadians do not have a primary care provider and emergency departments are routinely overwhelmed by people seeking care. We should be finding ways to grow the health workforce, not creating more roadblocks that may discourage the training and recruitment of new doctors, while also avoiding an exodus of health professionals. Now that this tax change is effectively cancelled, the CMA calls for a permanent reprieve of this unintentionally damaging measure.

When Parliament resumes, the CMA urges Members of Parliament to focus their efforts on legislative opportunities that will provide Canadians the stable, accessible health system they need and deserve. 

Dr. Joss Reimer
President
 

Categories: Medical News

Statement: CMA responds to Prime Minister Trudeau's resignation as Liberal Leader

Mon, 01/06/2025 - 04:00

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) acknowledges Justin Trudeau's contributions to Canadian health care. His government made historic health care investments, launched the beginning of universal pharmacare and dental care programs and passed legislation to protect health care workers from harassment. Dramatic reductions in child poverty will produce better health for future generations. We thank him for his commitment to public service and to Canada.

At the same time, a global pandemic laid bare the gaps in our system – especially with 6.5 million Canadians lacking a family physician and millions more not able to access specialized care in a timely manner. Canadians consistently identify health care as one of their top priorities for the federal government. Through the coming leadership process, subsequent election and a new government, the CMA is committed to keeping healthcare at the forefront of the public agenda. We will continue our work with physicians, health care professionals, Canadians and elected officials of all stripes at all levels to make the positive change Canadians deserve.

Dr. Joss Reimer
President, CMA

Categories: Medical News

COMMENTARY: Canada’s health system has an accountability problem

Thu, 01/02/2025 - 04:00

Governments spend hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars every year on our country’s public health care system. Health spending in 2023 was expected to reach $344 billion, about $8,740 per Canadian. That's a lot of money for a health system that is failing to meet the needs of so many. As we approach the end of 2024 and many Canadians consider New Year’s resolutions for their personal or professional lives, perhaps it’s time we consider resolutions for our ailing health system. 

For generations, our health system was a source of pride. Sadly, we haven’t been able to say this for a while. Physicians, other health care workers and patients alike have watched the system slowly deteriorate over the past 20 years. 

Successive governments at all levels and of all political stripes have made commitments to improve health care with mixed results. 

While these issues took decades to develop, the pandemic pushed the health system past its breaking point to where we find ourselves today: 6.5 million individuals lack a primary care provider, emergency departments nationwide close intermittently due to staff shortages, and wait times for surgeries and diagnostic tests are still unacceptably long. 

Canadians are rightfully worried and losing hope. Polling across the country consistently illustrates that health care remains a top priority among voters, but a CMA survey from summer 2023 showed that only 26% of Canadians considered the health care system to be in excellent or very good condition. Just a quarter of those surveyed were optimistic that anything would improve over the next couple of years. 

However, I’m encouraged to see some progress in health-care reform that will help improve access to care: provinces are exploring team-based care models and efforts are being made to entice physicians to practise in rural settings; several provinces, including British Columbia, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia improved their payment models for family medicine; the Atlantic Physician Registry has enabled greater mobility of the physician workforce, demonstrating a step forward on streamlining multi-jurisdictional licensure; several provinces are adopting legislation to eliminate or reduce sick notes; and millions of dollars were invested into streamlining the recognition and integration of internationally trained physicians. 

Earlier this year, the federal government signed agreements with all provinces and territories for the most significant health care investment in more than two decades. Importantly, it included accountability measures requiring provinces and territories to report progress on improving access to family health services, mental health and substance use treatment; easing treatment backlogs; expanding workforce capacity; and modernizing the health system, including advancing digital health.

Since then, a Canadian Medical Association (CMA) analysis concluded that some provinces and territories aren’t meeting the critical targets outlined in the agreements and some key information is missing altogether. For example, to date, no jurisdiction is meeting its targets to improve access to primary care. Likewise, none of the provinces and territories have set targets to eliminate or even track emergency department closures, despite Canadians nationwide experiencing three summers in a row where this previously unheard-of situation has become a common occurrence.

More needs to be done. These accountability measures announced last year are an excellent first step, but governments must go further. Canadians deserve information on key indicators in the health system, the number of hospital emergency department closures per year, and the percentage of health workers reporting burnout. 

These performance metrics would allow Canadians to monitor how their health system is functioning, what the pain points are and whether their government’s efforts are succeeding or failing. 

Canada also needs a chief health accountability officer mandated to monitor and report publicly the implementation of intergovernmental health agreements to ensure all parties are delivering on their commitments for Canadians. An accountability mechanism would ensure that health dollars are effectively spent and that governments achieve the necessary outcomes to ensure Canadians are getting the care that they deserve. We hope to see a commitment from governments to strengthen and renew current bilateral agreements, ensuring Canadians receive the full value for their investments in health care.

As we end the year and reflect on the harsh realities confronting our health system, I still find myself feeling optimistic. We have seen important steps toward improvements, and it is my sincere hope that 2025 brings about far more transparency, accountability, and most importantly accessibility to our health system. Canadians deserve it. 

Dr. Joss Reimer is a public health physician in Winnipeg and the president of the Canadian Medical Association.

This commentary was first published by The Hill Times on Dec. 29, 2024.

Categories: Medical News

CMA congratulates Dr. Sandy Buchman on appointment to Order of Canada

Thu, 12/19/2024 - 04:00

The Canadian Medical Association extends heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Sandy Buchman, CMA president (2019-2020), for his appointment as a member of the Order of Canada

Dr. Buchman’s contribution to the medical profession extends many decades and spans both provincial and national advocacy. While CMA president, he championed changes to improve the culture of medicine, recognizing the stress confronting physicians and the impact on patient care. Dr. Buchman advocated for equitable access to health care, spoke out against racism in the health system, and called for stronger measures to protect seniors and other vulnerable Canadians at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In addition to his advocacy work, Dr. Buchman is recognized for his dedication to patients and his leadership on all matters related to palliative care. His voice and leadership in Canada will resonate for years to come.  

On behalf of the medical profession, we congratulate Dr. Buchman on this well deserved achievement. 

Dr. Joss Reimer
President, CMA

Categories: Medical News

COMMENTARY: Productivity in health care doesn’t mean doing ‘more with less’

Tue, 12/17/2024 - 04:00

Calls to “enhance productivity” in health care can feel like a euphemism for “do more with less” – a bitter pill to swallow for those of us on the front lines grappling with rising patient volumes, growing complexities of care, resource scarcity, and staff shortages. 

Canada’s health system is inefficient. Healthcare professionals are shackled to fax machines, battling with siloed electronic health records (EHRs) that don’t talk to one another. Reports are lost, requisitions bounce back, and valuable clinician time is devoured by redundant administrative tasks. It’s no wonder that nearly half of physicians in Canada report experiencing burnout.

As a family physician, I can attest to the frustrations of our current system. Every day, I navigate a labyrinth of disjointed platforms, faxes, and phone calls to get patients the care they need. The promise of interoperable EHRs — a dream I naively believed in 20 years ago — remains unfulfilled.

But enhancing productivity doesn’t mean pushing clinicians to work harder or penalizing them for falling short of impossible administrative standards. We have systemic inefficiencies – and addressing them means building systems that work smarter. 

Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), e-referrals, and virtual care platforms hold enormous potential to transform health care delivery. For instance, AI-powered scribes have been shown to reduce administrative time by up to 90%, freeing clinicians to spend more time with patients.

The promise of technology does come with caveats. Poorly designed systems can become barriers rather than solutions. Multiple log-ins, non-intuitive interfaces, and overly complex workflows can alienate clinicians and exacerbate burnout. Worse, when technology fails to address interoperability — when data can’t flow seamlessly between systems — patients and providers alike are left to pick up the pieces.

If AI is to play a central role in health care’s productivity revolution, it must also earn the trust of both clinicians and patients. This means addressing critical concerns around data security, informed consent, and transparency. Legislation like Canada’s AI and Data Act is a step in the right direction, but we need to go further, ensuring that these tools are co-designed with clinicians and aligned with real-world workflows.

Nor is technology the only solution: One of the most promising paths forward is the adoption of team-based care. By shifting from physician-only models to interdisciplinary teams, we can alleviate pressure on individual clinicians while expanding capacity. Patient Medical Homes, for example, have been shown to reduce emergency visits, improve chronic disease management, and enhance overall patient outcomes.

Embracing this model will require a cultural shift. Physicians must be willing to share decision-making power with their colleagues, while team members need robust communication tools and clear protocols to collaborate effectively.

Addressing the sheer scale of administrative burden placed on clinicians is another necessary system fix. Simple policy changes, like eliminating sick notes for short-term illnesses or streamlining federal forms, can have an outsized impact.

Above all, enhancing productivity must not come at the expense of clinician well-being. Burnout isn’t just a personal issue — it’s a systemic threat. Burned-out clinicians are more likely to work reduced hours, take early retirement, or leave the profession altogether, compounding the very shortages that productivity initiatives aim to address.

Flexible work arrangements, mental health resources, and a workplace culture that values the human element of care are essential. Productivity is not about driving clinicians harder; it’s about creating environments where they can thrive.

Countries like Denmark offer a glimpse of what’s possible: integrated electronic platforms, seamless data sharing, and team-based care models that prioritize outcomes over volume. By drawing on these examples, investing in digital health infrastructure, and fostering collaboration across silos, Canada can build a health care system that is not only more efficient but also more compassionate and sustainable.

The road ahead is long, but the destination — a health care system that works for everyone — is worth striving for. To get there, we must embrace innovation, collaboration, and above all, the well-being of those of us who provide care for others. Only then can we truly say we’re working smarter, not harder.
 

CMA past president Dr. Kathleen Ross

This article was originally published in Healthy Debate

Categories: Medical News