Family physicians are providing less obstetrical care and inpatient care concludes a new study from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). The Evolving Role of Canada's Fee-for-Service Family Physicians, 1994 to 2003 updates a 2004 report with an emphasis on provincial data in 9 clinical areas for fee-for service family physicians.
“Our goal was to give provinces the opportunity to look at the data in their own contexts. It is up to them to explain the results. This should help them to ask the right questions,” said CIHI's director of Health Resources Information, Francine Anne Roy.
One of the most noteworthy findings is that the number of family physicians providing obstetrical care fell by nearly 50% since 1994. The percentage of male doctors doing obstetrics dropped from 26% in 1994 to 13.2% in 2003; among female physicians, the percentage fell from 27% to 15.7%.
In rural areas, the number of family doctors providing hospital inpatient care dropped from 80% in 1994 to 75% in 2003. Among urban doctors, 61% had provided inpatient care in 1994, but only 48% offered this service in 2003.
“Our college was not surprised by the findings,” said Dr. Louise Nasmith, president of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. “The system has become more and more fragmented, and it is harder for doctors to access the care that they need from specialists. It makes it difficult to provide a seamless practice.”
Nasmith added that “While there are more family physicians in urban areas, doctors in rural areas are more likely to provide full-service care. As a result, they are burning out quickly, because they are on call all the time.” — Margot Andresen, Ottawa