The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) has introduced updated guidelines aimed at addressing the challenges faced by doctors overwhelmed with excessive patient loads. This move comes amid rising concerns about the sustainability of Alberta's healthcare system. With at least 600,000 Albertans lacking a family physician, the pressure on medical professionals has reached critical levels. The new guidelines offer a framework for doctors who must, for safety reasons, reduce their patient rosters.
Dr. Shelley Duggan, President of the Alberta Medical Association (AMA), emphasized the urgency of systemic reforms to alleviate the ongoing crisis.
"It's disappointing. But I think if you're balancing, at the moment, you do have to try to keep those very acutely ill patients in your practice," – Dr. Shelley Duggan, Alberta Medical Association president.
The AMA is actively seeking expressions of interest from doctors willing to adjust their patient loads under these new guidelines. Dr. Duggan expressed optimism about the early responses from physicians. Meanwhile, Dr. Dawn Hartfield, CPSA's deputy registrar, highlighted the escalating stress levels within medical practice.
"There's more stress in practice." – Dr. Dawn Hartfield, the college's deputy registrar.
The strain on Alberta's healthcare providers is further reflected by statistics indicating that about half report experiencing burnout. The CPSA does not track the exact number of doctors reducing their patient loads, but the interest in doing so suggests a notable trend. The AMA and the provincial government recently announced a new pay model for primary care physicians, which they hope will provide relief to those burdened with high patient volumes. However, a minimum of 500 physicians must enroll in this program for it to proceed in the spring.
Dr. Hartfield underscored the importance of intentional strategies to protect vulnerable patients during this transition.
"We need to ensure that we're doing this with intention so that the most vulnerable patients are protected and continue to have access to care," – Dr. Dawn Hartfield, the college's deputy registrar.
Dr. Lorian Hardcastle, an associate professor at the University of Calgary, commented on the broader implications of these developments.
"It really does speak to the pressure that the system is under and … how much doctors have taken on," – Lorian Hardcastle, associate professor in the faculty of law and the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary.
Dr. Duggan echoed these concerns, pointing out that some patients with significant medical needs were previously being let go by family physicians due to capacity issues.
"Unfortunately, what was happening … is that some patients who had significant medical problems — significant needs and comorbidities — were being let go from their family physicians," – Dr. Shelley Duggan, Alberta Medical Association president.
These patients often ended up in acute care facilities because they had no other options for medical attention.
"These type of patients would often end up in acute care simply because they didn't have anywhere else to go." – Dr. Shelley Duggan, Alberta Medical Association president.
The revised guidelines aim to provide a structured approach for physicians making the difficult decision to limit their patient numbers. Dr. Hartfield stressed that these decisions must be compassionate and fair, taking into account patient needs.
"These are difficult decisions for physicians to make, without a doubt. And ensuring we have strategies in place that really consider the needs of the patients — that they're compassionate and fair — are really important at this point in time." – Dr. Dawn Hartfield, the college's deputy registrar.
