Concerns grow as more and more Albertans can't find a family doctor
CBC
A dramatic drop in the number of family physicians accepting new patients has left many Albertans without a doctor to call their own, and the shortage is sparking concerns about patient care and safety.
Most family doctors are connected to primary care networks, which have a centralized online portal for finding a physician.
The number of Alberta doctors accepting new patients through that portal dropped by half — from 907 to 446 — between May 2020 and January of 2022, according to data provided by the primary care networks.
"Not knowing is difficult," said Daphne Pauls, 53, who has fibromyalgia and recently found out her family doctor, based in Pincher Creek, is leaving the province.
It's a big worry for Pauls, who lives in Lundbreck, and said consistent care is key for maintaining her health.
"It just leaves me kind of not knowing how will my health be cared for. Am I going to just have to see different doctors every time I go in? Will I have one doctor? And it just makes it more complicated."
"I'm extremely concerned," said Dr. Everett Zdrill, a family physician in Edson and a board member with the Alberta College of Family Physicians.
With quick and regular access to care, he said, health problems can be caught and treated earlier.
"You might end up with a smaller treatment or a smaller surgery or a less complicated treatment course. Whereas the longer you wait, the worse it gets. And so people present with delayed pathology."
Doctors worry this could lead to delays in diagnosing serious health problems such as cancer or deterioration in patients with complex and chronic health problems.
According to Zdrill, some doctors are retiring early, some are scaling back and others are moving their practice out of the province.
"There'll be some people who are saying, 'Hey, this has been quite a grind here in the last couple of years, and I don't see it getting better, I see it getting worse,'" he said.
"We still don't have a contract, still don't feel very respected, so [they're saying] 'I'll move to another province where I feel more respected.'"
Dr. Tobias Gelber is packing up and moving to B.C., after practising in Pincher Creek for 20 years.
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