GP For Me A Success Says Government
Prince George, B.C.- The Province has announced new incentives and supports to work towards ensuring every family that wants a family physician, can have one by 2015.
As of April 1sr this year, physicians can be compensated for consultations over the phone. It’s a move that should free up time, and clear the area for someone else needing an office visit.
There are also incentives for physicians to take more patients with complex conditions, such as cancer, onto their caseloads and there is funding to support local physician groups to work collaboratively with health authorities to support better local access to primary care.
Prince George was part of the pilot project which lead to the rolling out of the incentives province wide. During the pilot project, Prince George was able to recruit 8 new physicians and the Blue Pine Health Care Clinic was established.
White Rock was also part of the “GP For Me” pilot project and it was so successful, there is no longer a waiting list for a family physician in that community.
The costs of the new program is $132.4 million in funding. A significant portion of this funding is from the existing physician master agreement negotiated by government and the BC Medical Association in 2012.
Comments
$30 bucks + for an office visit to the doctors? He will be paid for phone calls? Hope the doc can get Skype so I can show him my rash or leaky appendix scar. Proctolgists, not so much. Next time you read how much our medical system pays for prescriptions don’t forget to add the costs of the initial office visit and renewal office visit. Yes, I do know the doctor has expenses. But still. In closing, I read that the average cataract surgeons make $551 thousand dollars a year. I should have stayed in school. Know what an innuendo is? It’s an Italian suppository.
So why can’t I find a doctor then?
I’m confused – which admittedly isn’t uncommon recently.
What exactly was done in this pilot project that garnered 8 new physicians and the Blue Pine Clinic?
I know families who lost their family doc because he retired. This move will hopefully help them get in with another physician!
The government can only do so much. The fact is that Doctors do generally not want to live and work in rural communities. It is not easy to find a GP in many urban communities, let alone rural.
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