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Primary care physician shortage - Coggle Diagram
Primary care physician shortage
Population most impacted by shortage
Patients with one or more chronic conditions
Seniors
Population in rural areas
Low income with limited access to alternative services
Contributing factors
Decline in physicians choosing family medicine
trend toward specialties
Increase in physicians retiring.
"in 2012 6819 family physicians were over the age of 65 and nearing retirement. (Flood, C et al 2023)
Aging population
Higher prevalence of chronic conditions within population
Solutions
Current federal and provincial incentives to encourage primary care
Changes in funding models
Implementation of team-based approach to care
Expanding telemedicine, virtual care
Community involvement to provide education and chronic disease prevention
Expanding health professionals scope of practice
Pharmacists
nurse practitioners
Prescribe medications, order diagnostic tests etc.
Allied health professionals
Chronic conditions impacted
Diabetes
Congestive heart failure
acute myocardial infarction
Stroke
hypertension
asthma
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
PVD
end stage renal failure
Access to care
longer wait times
delayed diagnosis
limited availability of PCP
Impact on health outcomes
Longer hospitalization
Poorer management of care
Reduced monitoring
lack of continuity of care
Missed opportunities for preventative care
Decreased quality of care
Reduced follow-up and monitoring
Potential errors or misdiagnosis
Complications or worsening of condition
Impact on healthcare system
Increased demand for healthcare services and resources
Overburdened caseload of healthcare workers
Increased spending to meet demand
greater reliance on alternative health care providers i.e nurses