TABLE 3.
Characteristics of BC primary care physicians over the study period
| 1991/92 | 1996/97 | 2001/02 | 2005/06 | 2009/10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n (# physicians included) | 2,732 | 3,190 | 3,189 | 3,201 | 3,429 |
| Physician practice characteristics (mean, SD) | |||||
| Total billings ($) | 209,946 (82,717) | 202,950 (79,733) | 204,503 (85,117) | 209,292 (90,927) | 223,708 (105,002) |
| Total # of contacts | 5,858 (2,417) | 5,786 (2,471) | 5,925 (2,627) | 6,035 (2,832) | 5,771 (2,837) |
| # unique patients | 1,831 (867) | 2,017 (1,112) | 2,086 (1,184) | 2,175 (1,305) | 2,154 (1,321) |
| # patients receiving >50% of primary care (MSOC)† | 754 (754) | 718 (718) | 716 (716) | 698 (698) | 673 (435) |
| # patients receiving >2/3 of primary care* (UPC) | 467 (467) | 427 (427) | 428 (428) | 417 (417) | 399 (309) |
| Physician demographics (n, %) | |||||
| Female | 629 (23.0) | 897 (28.1) | 956 (29.8) | 1,018 (31.3) | 1,178 (34.3) |
| Age group | |||||
| <40 | 1,081 (39.6) | 1,110 (34.8) | 815 (25.4) | 570 (17.5) | 507 (14.7) |
| 40–44 | 546 (20.0) | 591 (18.5) | 583 (18.2) | 556 (17.1) | 386 (11.2) |
| 45–49 | 444 (16.3) | 570 (17.9) | 563 (17.5) | 583 (17.9) | 598 (17.4) |
| 50–54 | 218 (8.0) | 437 (13.7) | 529 (16.5) | 537 (16.5) | 591 (17.2) |
| 55–59 | 201 (7.4) | 197 (6.2) | 392 (12.2) | 494 (15.2) | 530 (15.4) |
| 60–64 | 143 (5.2) | 161 (5.1) | 162 (5.1) | 307 (9.4) | 453 (13.2) |
| 65+ | 99 (3.6) | 123 (3.9) | 166 (5.2) | 203 (6.2) | 374 (10.9) |
| Years in practice | |||||
| <5 | 404 (14.8) | 307 (9.6) | 159 (5.0) | 95 (3.0) | 107 (3.1) |
| 6–10 | 437 (16.0) | 613 (19.2) | 422 (13.1) | 292 (9.1) | 273 (7.9) |
| 11–20 | 1,000 (36.6) | 1,047 (32.8) | 1,120 (34.9) | 1,073 (33.5) | 890 (25.9) |
| 21–30 | 540 (19.8) | 842 (26.4) | 975 (30.4) | 970 (30.2) | 1,088 (31.6) |
| 31+ | 350 (12.8) | 379 (11.9) | 534 (16.6) | 777 (24.2) | 1,081 (31.4) |
| Place of graduation | |||||
| UBC | 936 (34.3) | 1092 (34.2) | 1097 (34.2) | 1035 (32.3) | 1,054 (31.2) |
| Other Canadian medical school | 1,109 (40.6) | 1,326 (41.6) | 1,308 (40.8) | 1,273 (39.7) | 1,277 (37.8) |
| International medical school | 687 (25.2) | 771 (24.2) | 805 (25.1) | 900 (28.1) | 1,049 (31.0) |
| Health authority | |||||
| Vancouver Coastal | 462 (17.0) | 549 (17.3) | 562 (17.6) | 613 (18.9) | 661 (19.2) |
| Fraser Health | 698 (25.7) | 853 (26.9) | 864 (27.1) | 882 (27.2) | 916 (26.7) |
| Vancouver Island | 823 (30.3) | 934 (29.5) | 914 (28.7) | 889 (27.5) | 911 (26.5) |
| Interior | 552 (20.3) | 637 (20.1) | 657 (20.6) | 649 (20.0) | 735 (21.4) |
| Northern | 181 (6.7) | 198 (6.2) | 189 (5.9) | 205 (6.3) | 211 (6.1) |
Majority Source of Care (MSOC): Physician provided 50% or more of primary care contacts to the patient in question. Patients with an equal number of contacts from two or more physicians cannot be assigned.
Usual Provider of Care (UPC): Physician provided two-thirds or more of primary care contacts. Patients must have a minimum of three contacts in the study year.
Data were missing for some physician characteristics. Sex: 1 missing in 2009/10. Age: 1 missing in 2005/06. Years in practice: 1 missing in 1991/92 and 2001/02, 44 in 2005/06. Place of graduation: 43 missing in 2005/06, 59 in 2009/10. Health authority: 16 missing in 1991/92, 18 in 1996/97, 24 in 2001/02, 13 in 2005/06 and 5 in 2009/10.