Reducing burdens for BC physicians
Doctors of BC has been working for many years to reduce the time physicians spend dealing with administrative burdens, such as paperwork, unnecessary tasks, and work that does not directly relate to patient care.
This includes the Administrative Burdens Working Group (ABWG), initially formed as part of the 2022 Physician Master Agreement (now known as the Physician Main Agreement, PMA), as well as the development of policies and resources to support BC doctors. Learn more about the Physician Main Agreement.
Administrative burdens support for physicians
Access resources, educational tools, and programs from Doctors of BC that help reduce physician burdens and their impacts.
- Our Digital Health webpage includes resources and updates on digital health improvements in the province, and physician engagement opportunities.
- Visit our Business Support webpage to find information in navigating the operational side of managing a business.
- Access our Practice Supports webpage to find tools and programs to improve your practice’s efficiency.
- The Doctors Technology Office (DTO), an initiative led by the Family Practice Services Committee (FPSC), offers guidance on up-to-date health technology solutions that align with professional standards and security practices.
- Our Workplace Requirements And Information page streamlines access to important information from WorkSafeBC and ICBC and includes information about the Community Physician Health and Safety Program, which aims to reduce burdens and enhance health and safety for physicians and support staff working in communities.
- Doctors of BC’s Policy team has engaged with members to learn about their administrative burdens for many years. Work includes 2021 policy statement, and a 2022 policy paper. It also launched the burdens solutions tool.
Physician Main Agreement 2025: Administrative burdens updates
The 2025 Physician Main Agreement (PMA) has renewed the Memorandum of Agreement on Physicians’ Administrative Burdens, first negotiated by Doctors of BC in the 2022 PMA. As a result, operational funding for the ABWG has increased.
The ABWG consists of physician and staff representatives from Doctors of BC, provincial health authorities and the Ministry of Health. Project and secretariat support is available through Health Quality BC.
Additional resources have been allocated under the 2025 PMA to implement the ABWG’s recommendations on several existing focus areas: Special Authority, BC Cancer, and medical imaging. The scope of the working group has also broadened, enabling the identification and prioritization of new burdens to address as efforts continue.
Work under the Administrative Burdens Working Group
This joint working group was established to make recommendations to actively reduce ongoing administrative burdens faced by physicians. It focuses on the most significant burdens that the Ministry of Health, Health Authorities, Doctors of BC, and physicians can influence.
The scope of the subject areas to be addressed is limited to burdens created by or within the control of the Ministry of Health, Health Authorities, Doctors of BC, and physicians. Generally, requirements around the creation of a patient record are out of scope. No recommended change will reduce the quality of care for patients.
Administrative Burdens Working Group focus areas
The Administrative Burdens Working Group (ABWG) is currently focusing on several areas that affect physicians. The 2025 PMA has provided the group with the opportunity to expand the scope of its work and identify further burdens to address. Read about the group’s progress below.
Management of medical imaging appointments
Responsibility and ownership of the process
Medical imaging services run by health authorities identified in the Memorandum of Agreement Physician Administrative Burdens (MOA), where referring providers currently manage booking processes, should be directly responsible for contacting patients, booking appointments, and providing necessary exam-preparation information.
Notifications
Current policy from the Ministry of Health requires Lower Mainland medical imaging services to notify referring providers and patients when a requisition has been received and whether it has been accepted/declined. The ABWG recommends that notifications now include the provincial standardized priority level and, at a future date, include estimated wait time advice.
The group also recommends that Health Gateway be used as a platform for patients to access information to confirm their medical imaging requisition status, procedures, preparation instructions, and contact details for questions as they arise.
Technical solutions
The Ministry of Health and the Provincial Health Services Authority should analyze the provincial medical imaging office's eTriage function as a potential requisition management solution. This would help identify whether expansion into medical imaging services identified by the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), where the function is not currently in place, is cost-effective and sustainable in the context of the wider Provincial Digital Health Strategy.
If this proves to be a potential solution, Fraser Health Authority, Providence Health Care, Provincial Health Services Authority, and Vancouver Coastal Health imaging services should collaborate with the provincial medical imaging office and the Ministry of Health to continue expanding requisition management tools into all medical imaging services identified in the MOA.
Next steps
To implement these recommendations, the Ministry of Health will work with the health authorities in the Lower Mainland to determine the best approach for all partners involved. Doctors of BC will work collaboratively with partners during the implementation phase to ensure the physician perspective is incorporated into any changes and adjustments.
Special Authority (SA) forms and processes
Following an extensive review of SA forms and processes, the ABWG developed recommendations in four key areas:
Simplifying and reducing coverage renewal requirements
Many items that require SA are already eligible for indefinite coverage and do not require a renewal application. When medications or devices need a renewal requirement, simplifying and minimizing the process helps to reduce the risk of gaps in coverage.
Improving digital integration to reduce transcription
This includes an automated review of a patient’s PharmaNet profile as well as an automated review of certain lab values. A digital solution that is integrated with the electronic medical records software used in BC will also reduce the need for manual data entry.
Establishing a standardized process to reassess drug coverage as evidence and clinical best practices evolve
Relative value of SA requirements and criteria evolves as clinical evidence evolves and new medications/devices are listed, leading to the need to reassess coverage criteria. A standardized process also ensures capacity to handle increased application volume as new medications are listed.
Strengthening support for prescribers
Ensuring closed-loop communication between the SA team and the requestor, and identifying where and how physicians want to hear information about SA.
Together, these recommendations reduce administrative burdens for prescribers while improving quality of care for patients.
Changes to date
Several changes aligned with the recommendations regarding reassessing coverage, including renewal frequency, have already been introduced, while other recommendations remain under review.
Several medications identified by physicians as high priority for reconsideration no longer require SA. The Ministry of Health is reviewing how best to implement the recommendations, with a focus on digital integration and enhanced support for prescribers.
Physicians can access the latest changes to the PharmaCare formulary through the PharmaCare newsletter.
BC Cancer Agency forms and processes
The ABWG is meeting with BC Cancer to support their ongoing work and identify collaborative opportunities to reduce related administrative burdens.