Alberta doctors push back against planned pay reductions for being on call
CBC
Some Alberta doctors, facing pay cuts for their on-call work, are warning the changes could make staffing problems in hospitals worse.
Under the physician on-call program doctors get an hourly stipend for being available to treat patients as needed.
But changes following a review of the program — run by Alberta Health Services and funded by Alberta Health — mean physicians will no longer be paid for daytime on-call hours on weekdays.
While doctors had been compensated for the entire 24-hour period, they've been notified that once the program updates are implemented, they'll be paid for only 14 hours.
"We're hearing from lots and lots of people.… We were getting an influx of concerns," said Dr. Shelley Duggan, president of the Alberta Medical Association.
In a recent letter, she told members she's aware of dozens of on-call programs preparing to appeal the decision and "advising that they intend on reducing their availability to see unattached patients or cancel their availability entirely."
According to Duggan, some new programs were added through the review process. But the budget was not increased.
"Nobody begrudges that these new programs should have been added. But really what was needed was an increase in the budget," she said.
Doctors get the hourly stipend to be available to attend to patients and to respond, in some cases, in under half an hour. Some are required to be at the hospital. Physicians also bill for the clinical services they provide when they're on call.
Duggan believes the program changes will affect a variety of doctors in both urban and rural areas.
"That obstetrician [for example] really can't say, 'I know you're about to deliver, but I'm not coming to attend to you.' It's just not possible.… So these physicians are handcuffed in many ways," she said.
"Clearly they have to care for people and they will care for people, and now they're not getting remunerated as much as they were before. So we are not incentivizing the system that we want."
Physicians were told the stipend cuts would take effect April 1.
However, in an email to CBC News, Alberta Health Services said it is now extending that deadline to ensure a thorough appeals process.
Some Alberta doctors, facing pay cuts for their on-call work, are warning the changes could make staffing problems in hospitals worse.
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