Doctors dealing with too much paperwork, time being wasted: new report
Doctors Manitoba says a new report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is shedding light on how much time is being wasted filling out needless paperwork.
On Monday, the CFIB released a new report called Patients Before Paperwork. The report says doctors across the country are spending around 18.5 million hours on unnecessary paperwork and administrative duties each year, which equals 55.6 million patient visits.
“Red tape hurts everyone, and we should be looking to reduce it wherever we can, especially where it promises to free up time in areas we care about,” said Laura Jones, CFIB vice-president and co-author of the report, in a news release.
In Manitoba, CFIB said doctors are spending 591,000 hours per year filling out unnecessary paperwork, which is equal to 1.8 million patient visits.
Dr. Candace Bradshaw, the president of Doctors Manitoba, said paperwork can be soul-sucking and is a big reason for doctor burnout.
“The CFIB’s recommendations make a ton of sense to us. Measure the admin burden in our province, set a target to reduce, and set up oversight to ensure that it happens,” said Bradshaw.
As part of the report, CFIB said if the paperwork was cut by just 10 per cent, it could mean 5.5 million more patient visits throughout Canada, and in Manitoba, it would mean 177,000 more patient visits.
WHAT COUNTS AS UNNECESSARY PAPERWORK?
When asked what kind of paperwork could be deemed unnecessary by doctors, she said she had an example of it Monday morning.
“I was filling out getting exception drug status approved on a patient who will need the medication in question for the rest of her life. Each year this paperwork is necessary because they will only approve her one year at a time. That doesn’t make any sense to me, this is never going to change, she will always need this medication.”
Bradshaw also notes several forms include “strange” questions that she says are not needed and take up the time she could spend with patients.
“For every patient visit that I have, I would say 60 to 70 per cent of it involves administrative duty, seeing the patient being probably the smallest portion of that time,” said Bradshaw. “We went into medicine to become physicians and care for our patients. We did not go into medicine to do data entry and fill out form after form with redundant questions and things that could be managed much differently or perhaps sometimes even by somebody else in the care team.”
In the report, CFIB refers to Nova Scotia, as the province has set a target to reduce administrative work by 10 per cent by 2024. The province has already identified areas to improve and CFIB said other provinces and territories should follow suit.
Bradshaw said if there is a system that is working then it should be looked at to be used in Manitoba.
“Everything has to be provincially specific because what’s working there isn’t going to necessarily work as well here.”
She pointed to the fact that Manitoba has several health regions and if a form is filled out for the wrong region for a procedure, then the form is rejected and the doctor must start again.
“These are Manitoba-specific issues and we would definitely have to pay attention to those kinds of details to be successful.”
In a prepared statement to CTV News Winnipeg, the government said it is working with Doctors Manitoba to alleviate administrative burdens and an update will be provided in the near future.
“This initiative is part of our government’s $200 million health human resource action plan to add 2,000 health professionals to the system,” a government spokesperson said.
The entire report from CFIB has been viewed here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Prince William and wife Kate thank public for birthday messages for son Louis
Prince William and his wife Kate thanked the public for their messages which had been sent to mark the sixth birthday of their youngest son Louis on Tuesday.
She was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father. Then life dealt her a blow
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
RCMP uncovers plot to sell drones and equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a ploy to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
'Catch-and-kill' strategy to be a focus as testimony resumes in Trump hush money case
A veteran tabloid publisher was expected to return to the witness stand Tuesday in Donald Trump's historic hush money trial.
Quebec farmers have been protesting since December. Is anyone listening?
Upset about high interest rates, growing paperwork and heavy regulatory burdens, protesting farmers have become a familiar sight across Quebec since December.