The College of Family Physicians of Canada says one of the ways family doctors can improve patient care is by working in closer collaboration with nurses and nurse practitioners.
The College estimates that about 14 per cent of Canadians, or about five million people, do not have a family doctor. They would like to say that reduced to five per cent by 2012, so that 95 per cent of residents in every community across the country have personal family physicians.
"A target of 95 per cent by 2012 will move us closer to more timely access to primary care for patients as well as more highly specialized services to which patients may be referred," said Dr. Calvin Gutkin the CFPC's Executive Director.
"The CFPC believes that this target can be achieved by working with governments and other key stakeholders to implement strategies for family physician training, recruitment and retention."
On behalf of the college, Harris-Decima surveyed 2,014 Canadian adults between Aug. 22 and Sept. 4. Fourteen per cent of respondents said they were without a family doctor. Six per cent said they had tried to get one but were unable to.
The CFPC says one way to improve wait times and increase access to health services is for family doctors to collaborate with registered nurses and nurse practitioners.
"Nurses complement the work of family physicians and vice versa," says Neufeld. "Each team member brings a unique set of skills, knowledge and expertise to patient care."
The College and the Canadian Nurses Association announced Thursday the release of a joint vision statement on the value of collaborative interprofessional care for Canadians.
Karen Neufeld, president-elect of CNA, says their own research shows that when nurses work in partnership with family doctors, wait times are drastically decreased and access to health services improves.
"Teamwork strengthens family practice and creates synergies that benefit the patient, their families, the provider and the health system," said Neufeld.
As an example, the CNA points to the Primary Care program at the Capital District Health Authority in Halifax. After six months, the program is already reporting an increase in the number of patients being seen, and timely access to care has shown considerable improvement, says Patsy Smith, project lead of the Nursing in Your Family Practice program in Halifax.
At the same time, Smith says, chronic disease management, health promotion and disease prevention have also been enhanced.
"The majority of practices involved in this program have also increased their ability to accept new patients," says Smith.
Collaboration among health professionals is one of four ways to improve health service, says the CNA. The other ways include implementing electronic health records systems, researching new technologies and innovations, and ensuring adequate health human resources.
