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The Doctors of BC strategic framework identifies creating a system that provides patients with the access they need as being a requirement for the strategic goal of achieving the highest standard of health care for the public. As part of efforts to meet this requirement, Doctors of BC has developed policy to address barriers that reduce access to care, in particular access to specialized care, the impact of wait times, and service shortages. These policies are outlined in more detail below.
Wait times continue to be an issue of significant concern in the BC health system. Both physicians and their patients are affected by delays in accessing care. Doctors of BC has developed policy to advocate for needed action in the area of wait time reduction for key services and focused attention on reducing emergency department overcrowding.
Policy Statements:
Emergency Department Overcrowding
Wait Times and Patient Care Guarantees
Due to an aging population and increasing case complexity, there is a growing need for access to acute care services. Despite this need, evidence suggests that the current availability of acute care services is not sufficient and is manifested through prolonged waits and delays. Doctors of BC has developed policy to address this concerning gap in access to acute care services.
Policy Papers:
Improving Access to Acute Care Services
Policy Statements:
Improving Access to Acute Care Services
Successful transition from pediatric to adult care is the provision of uninterrupted, coordinated, developmentally appropriate, and psychologically sound health care. Unfortunately in BC there are a number of barriers to successful transitions in care for youth. These barriers include inappropriate transition, lack of adequate adult care providers, poor communication between providers, different service models, or unique and complex needs of patients. Doctors of BC has developed policy to speak to these barriers and advocate for improvements in transitioning youth to adult care.
Policy Papers:
Closing the Gap – Youth Transitioning to Adult Care in BC
Chronic pain is defined as pain that persists for more than 3-6 months and is an unpleasant physical and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. Up to one in five adults in BC experience chronic pain and many experience adverse effects on their mental and physical health which can affect their employment and social relationships. While chronic pain services exist in BC, their availability is inconsistent and wait times are considerable. Doctors of BC has developed policy to raise awareness of the impact of chronic pain and to advocate for improvements in the availability of services and access to care.
Policy Statements:
Doctors embrace the inherently demanding nature of medicine. However, in an increasingly complex health care system, physicians are faced with a growing number of demands that can lead to unmanageable time constraints and expectations to deliver beyond what can be reasonably expected in a single day. As the demands accumulate, they become burdensome, resulting in negative impacts on quality and access to patient care, physician health and wellness, and health system sustainability.
Policy Statements:
Physician Burdens - Policy Statement