'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
A 'tragedy that can't be measured': North Bay's forever chemical problem is also the rest of Canada's
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Here's what 'the hinge' move is, how to do it correctly
When you're picking something up from the floor or bending over to tie your shoe laces, you're performing "the hinge move," according to movement trainers.
Dashcam video shows terrifying near-miss on two-lane northern Ontario highway
There were some scary moments for several people on a northern Ontario highway caught on video Thursday after a chain reaction following a truck fire.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
Trump heading to Jersey Shore to rally 'mega crowd' in weekend break from hush money trial
After a long week in court, Donald Trump is heading to the Jersey Shore. And his campaign says he'll be joined by "tens of thousands" of his friends.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.