Sick of sick notes: Doctors say scrapping paperwork would save time better spent on patients
As Canada continues to battle the cold and flu season amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, doctors across the country are calling for the elimination of sick notes for minor illnesses. With an estimated 6.5 million Canadians lacking access to primary care and a shortage of 23,000 family doctors, physicians are feeling overwhelmed by the amount of paperwork they are required to complete.
Dr. Rita McCracken, a family physician and primary care researcher in Vancouver, expressed frustration with the current system, stating that patients should not have to visit their doctor’s office to obtain a sick note for a common cold. She emphasized that this unnecessary paperwork takes valuable time away from patient care, with doctors already spending between 10 to 19 hours per week on administrative tasks.
Dr. Joss Reimer, president of the Canadian Medical Association, highlighted the impact of sick notes on the healthcare system, revealing that doctors wrote approximately 12.5 million sick notes last year. She stressed the need to eliminate these notes to allow physicians to focus on providing care to more patients efficiently.
Several provinces are taking steps to reduce the burden of paperwork on doctors. Nova Scotia and Manitoba have established task forces to streamline administrative processes, resulting in significant time savings for physicians. Quebec has implemented new legislation banning private insurance companies from requiring doctor’s notes for reimbursements related to medical accessories and health treatments.
In Ontario, the government is moving to ban sick notes for short-term illnesses, aiming to cut down on paperwork for family doctors. Dr. Steve Major, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, emphasized the need for standardized and simplified paperwork to reduce the administrative burden on physicians.
Maria Mathews, a researcher at Western University, highlighted the challenges posed by electronic medical records, which can increase the administrative burden on doctors. She stressed the importance of tracking the effectiveness of strategies aimed at reducing paperwork to ensure that new technologies are beneficial to healthcare providers.
Overall, the push to eliminate sick notes and streamline administrative processes is crucial in addressing the primary care crisis in Canada. By reducing paperwork and allowing doctors to focus on patient care, provinces and territories can improve access to healthcare services and better support both patients and physicians.
