436 words / 2 min read / For all members

We hear from physicians every single day who are frustrated and distressed about the delays and poor access to medical care that patients face across Manitoba. Our analysis of patient access found that the modest increase in physician visits and surgeries we are seeing barely keeps up with population growth. That means the health system, at this rate, is very limited in its ability to improve access for patients.

Guided by physician feedback, we have drafted a submission to the Manitoba government with bold proposals to make meaningful improvements on improving access for your patients. It includes three primary components:

1. Add one million visits next year. Family physicians and specialists told us that access could be improved through three key actions: 1) recruiting more doctors, 2) reducing administrative burden, and 3) expanding team-based care in physician practices. The One Million Visit plan proposes continuing physician recruitment at record levels, as well as eliminating sick notes and addressing the log-in burden in hospitals. Investing in team-based care could help a variety of physician practices, from family medicine to psychiatry to medical and surgical specialty areas. Finally, Manitoba could add tariffs to support group or shared visits as well as to open up more same/​next day access, a priority for the government. See our full One Million Visit plan here.
   
2. Boost surgery volumes. Last year we saw 1,107 more surgeries compared to pre-pandemic levels. At that pace, it will take 36 years to eliminate the backlog, and that doesn’t factor in our growing population. A bold commitment to increase surgical volumes next year by at least 10% would show the government has a plan to catch up on the pandemic backlog and long wait times, and keep up with a growing population.
   
3. Increase diagnostic capacity. Wait times are unreasonably long for diagnostic testing. Expand lab and pathology testing in Manitoba. Introduce e‑requisition for diagnostic imaging to end the uncertainty of knowing whether a test request was actually received. Provide text or email appointment reminders for patients to reduce no-show rates which leave testing capacity unused. Expand diagnostic capacity in hospitals, and open up community-based testing options, such as for ultrasound, to improve access through innovative approaches. Expand technologist training, which is the single biggest barrier to expanding testing access in Manitoba.

With actions like these, 79% of physicians indicate they could improve access in their practice area.

We will be pressing the government for action to improve access to care, whether it’s family medicine, a visit with a specialist, surgery, or diagnostic testing. Please keep in touch with your ideas by emailing us at practiceadvice@​doctorsmanitoba.​ca.