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2009 Oct 29 (Thu)

Physician Supply

Kevin questions what the government is doing to encourage physicians to enter family practice.

 

1572 Alberta Hansard October 27, 2009

Dr. Taft: Thanks, Mr. Speaker. Throughout this summer we’ve been hearing loud and clear that Albertans are concerned about access to a family doctor, whether it’s getting a family doctor in the first place or getting in to see the doctor in a timely fashion. For example, almost 20 per cent of Calgarians do not have a family doctor. To the Minister of Health and Wellness. Alberta is growing, and we are losing ground and falling behind the target for family doctors per person. Why isn’t the government doing more to encourage physicians to enter family practice?

Mr. Liepert: Well, Mr. Speaker, it’s not quite that simple. Let me explain the situation that actually does occur in Calgary. We have a PCN at Crowfoot village mall that has moved to a different model of delivering health care. They’ve moved to a team-based model. They’re using other professionals in delivering health care. They’re under a different payment system, and they’re seeing 25 per cent more patients. So I would suggest that if 25 per cent of Albertans don’t have a family doctor – if all of our physicians moved to team based care under a different payment model, that would allow us to have those 25 per cent who don’t have family doctors all getting team-based care in this province.

Dr. Taft: Well, thanks. To the same minister: then is the minister saying the government is abandoning its targets for increasing the number of family physicians per capita?

Mr. Liepert: I don’t think that if the member checked Hansard, he would see that at all. The Minister of Advanced Education can elaborate if he so chooses, but we’re actually increasing our number of seats at the postsecondary institutions and medical school. In fact, I met with some of them yesterday. They are very pleased with the move that the government is making relative to rural initiatives. They are very pleased about the fact that they’re going to have opportunities to work in team-based care, Mr. Speaker, and they very much believe like we do: if you keep doing things the same way you’ve always done them, you’re likely not to get any different results.

Dr. Taft: Well, thanks, Mr. Speaker. Actually, the medical students are very concerned that the rural integrated community clerkship program, it is rumoured, is being cut. I ask the minister here in the Assembly today: can the minister make a commitment to increase the number of medical students who choose to practice in rural settings, and will he continue to see that the rural integrated community clerkship program is supported and expanded?

Mr. Liepert: Well, Mr. Speaker, now I know why they came into my office wondering if this program was going to be cut: because they probably met with this member, who was spreading rumours, before they were at my meeting. I can assure this Assembly, although we have not finalized our budget for next year, that if that was one of the things that I put on the table with this caucus, with these rural members, I’d be run out of the room.

 

 

Date: Thu Oct 29 21:00:12 MDT 2009 Author: Rebecca IP: 68.149.137.22