In Canada, it can be difficult to get in to see a doctor. This is because there are so few doctors per capita, and the ones that are available are often booked up. This can make it hard for people to get the care they need in a timely manner.

Patients awaiting treatment have become a symbol of Canadian health care. According to the Fraser report, Specialist physicians surveyed revealed a median waiting time of 25.6 weeks between a general practitioner’s referral and subsequent treatment, which is significantly greater than that reported in 2017 (17.3 weeks) or 2019 (23 weeks). This survey’s longest wait time ever is 175 days off the record.

There are a number of reasons why getting in to see a doctor is so hard in Canada. One reason is that there are simply not enough doctors per capita. In fact, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, there were just 2.8 physicians per 1,000 people in Canada in 2015. Compare that to 3.5 physicians per 1,000 people in the United States or 4.2 physicians per 1,000 people in Germany, and it’s easy to see why getting an appointment with a doctor can be so difficult in Canada.

In our current healthcare climate, patients are increasingly looking for ways to access care that is convenient and affordable. One way that providers are meeting this demand is by offering virtual care services. Virtual care specialists are trained to provide care through a variety of digital platforms, including video conferencing, phone, and email. They are able to assess patients’ needs and provide guidance on a wide range of health concerns.

Virtual care specialists can also help connect patients with other resources, such as mental health support or dieticians. This type of care is becoming more popular as it provides a convenient way for patients to get the care they need without having to travel to a doctor’s office or clinic.

Most importantly it offers timely access to physicians at a time when there are critical shortages in family doctors, over-whelmed hospital emergency departments, and increasingly limited access to specialists. It is estimated that around 6 million Canadians have been unable to find a family doctor and those that do have access to a family doctor are struggling to schedule an appointment in a timely manner.

Telemed MD continues to believe in the work that they do and the service that they offer to patients in Ontario. With their extensive team of family physicians and specialists they serve hundreds of thousands of patients through virtual care each year.

Conclusion

There is substantial evidence that wait times for medically necessary treatment are not merely unpleasant disruptions to your schedule. Wait times may lead to serious consequences such as pain and psychological distress in some instances, and they can also result in poorer medical outcomes. Occasionally, they can even result in the irreversible formation of chronic illnesses or injuries.

Telemed MD is doing their part to solve the many issues that patients have been recently experiencing in Ontario. We always welcome your feedback and how we can make your experience better and have better healthcare access.