'Soul-sucking administrative burden': The new task force working to stop physician burnout
The Manitoba government is partnering with Doctors Manitoba to launch a joint task force to help ease administrative burdens so doctors can focus on providing care and avoid burnout.
Health Minister Audrey Gordon announced the new task force on Friday, saying it will improve patient care and support the retention of doctors.
“Doctors often face excessive administrative requirements that place a burden on their time and take them away from their most important role, and that is providing care to Manitobans when they need it most,” she said.
“Manitoba is among the first provinces in the country to begin work to reduce the administrative burden on its doctors.”
The task force will work to identify any unnecessary administrative burdens, set goals, and then work with the organization to streamline or eliminate any of the burdens. It will also offer guidance and recommendations on how to avoid creating these administrative burdens for future doctors.
During this process, Doctors Manitoba will lead physician engagement to ensure the planning and implementation are informed by physicians’ experiences.
Dr. Candace Bradshaw, president of Doctors Manitoba, said she’s worked as a family physician for the past 21 years and has never seen the administrative burden on physicians as heavy as it is right now.
She added that research suggests doctors in Manitoba are spending 10 to 12 hours a week on administrative tasks, including paperwork and dealing with electronic medical records. Bradshaw said that research also shows that administrative burden is a leading cause of physician burnout.
“Doctors go into medicine to care for patients, but this soul-sucking administrative burden is stealing our time away from patients,” Bradshaw said.
The task force membership is in the process of being finalized and will include two co-chairs, three physicians, a representative from the Department of Health or the health system, and a representative from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business who has expertise in red tape reduction. The co-chairs will include one person appointed by the Manitoba government and one appointed by Doctors Manitoba.
The task force will begin its work immediately and will report to Gordon and Bradshaw.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
They were from different countries and barely spoke each other's languages. More than 20 years later, they're still happily in love
He decided to spend Christmas somewhere that wouldn't involve snowstorm disasters. She was spending the holidays with family, travelling for the first time outside of her native country of Venezuela. 23 years later, they're still in love.
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former U.S. President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
Verdun Airbnb listing taken down amid complaints, fines and frustration from neighbours
An Airbnb in Montreal's Verdun borough was the source of much frustration from neighbours who say there were constant parties at the location. It has been taken down from the app, but housing advocates remain upset about short-term rentals.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Fire in Labrador town under control, officials tells residents to stay away
RCMP say the fire that prompted a state of emergency in a Labrador town is now under control.
12 students and teacher killed in Columbine school shooting remembered at 25th anniversary vigil
Thirteen victims of the Columbine High School shooting were remembered during a vigil Friday on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the shooting that was the worst the nation had seen at the time.
Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza city of Rafah kills at least 9 Palestinians, including 6 children
An Israeli airstrike on a house in Gaza's southernmost city killed at least nine people, six of them children, hospital authorities said Saturday, as Israel pursued its nearly seven-month offensive in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Iraq investigates a blast at a base of Iran-allied militias that killed 1. U.S. denies involvement
Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight.