Are US doctors part of the answer to our shortages?

[Alies Maybee]

From Canada Healthwatch:

Canada lures US doctors amid authoritarian shift

Facing severe shortages of physicians and nurses, several provinces are recruiting U.S. health professionals to fill gaps in primary care and staff rural ERs.

Why it's important: Many U.S. physicians have long mused about making the move to Canada. Since Trump’s return to power, some have. Struggling provincial health systems may benefit from an abrupt outflow if provinces act quickly. Some are.

Recruiters say there’s increased and sustained interest in Canada among American obstetricians, psychiatrists, and family doctors. Programs in B.C., Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and Ontario aim to make the transition easier and fast-track Canadian licensure, which P.E.I. has waived outright for doctors from the U.S.

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My Comment: I encourage all of us to push our provinces to reduce the red tape for foreign doctors and nurses - not just for the Americans but for all. And also let's drop the barriers for doctors and nurses moving from province to province for goodness sake! In these times, these barriers are ridiculous.

[Chris Johnston]

@Alies-Maybee Totally agree about pushing the red tape aside to embrace incoming health professionals - and especially to allow internal movement between provinces. Even in disasters, the amount of red tape barriers for even allowing temporary work in another province is insane, and unnecessarily puts lives at risk.

[Debra Turnbull]

@Chris-Johnston @Alies-Maybee Totally agree with both of you - we need more doctors even if they are from the US - minimum cross-training. The issue is going to be to get the provincial Colleges of Physician & Surgeons to work together, and to work with provincial regulatory bodies. Much work to do...

[Alies Maybee]

@Alies-Maybee So I will add that the provinces have been working on reducing / eliminating the jurisdictional boundaries but still need a way to go. What role can we as P/CPs play? Should we encourage a - dare I say it - activist role like call/email your MPP? Thoughts? These are unprecedented times and require us to think boldly and outside the box to ensure Canadian healthcare stays intact and flourishes.

[Chris Johnston]

@Alies-Maybee I hear you, and while I rarely feel tempted towards activism (mainly due to the energy and persistence it requires that my health won't support), there's a strong temptation.

But I wonder if MPs are the right target? From the primary care work I've been involved in here in BC, every initiative has been stymied by the College and/or the Doctors of BC, but I somehow doubt they'd be swayed by a letter campaign since they seem quite immune to public opinion.

Perhaps a brainstorming session might help generate ideas?

[Debra Turnbull]

@Chris-Johnston @Alies-Maybee Hmmm.... this year's CMA conference is pushing the political activism angle and encouraging PP's to get involved.... I think a brainstorming session is in order.