Allison Mullin

Family doctors play growing role in Toronto health-care system: U of T report

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 17 May 2019 16:25:49 +0000

Family doctors play growing role in Toronto health-care system: U of T report

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 05/17/2019 - 12:25

Cutline

A new report by U of T's department of family and community medicine paints a comprehensive picture of family doctors in the Toronto area and the role they play in helping to alleviate the strain on Ontario's health-care system (photo by Pixabay)

Allison Mullin

Topic

Breaking Research

Ontario Impact

Chronic Illness

Cities

Faculty of Medicine

Mental Health

Beyond common colds and flu, the number of patients visiting their family doctors for issues related to mental illness and chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension is on the rise, according to a new report on the state of family medicine in the Greater Toronto Area.

The recently released University of Toronto Family Medicine Report shows a wider variety of ailments are being treated by family doctors than in the past. Anxiety, for instance, is one of the top reasons for visits to family doctors in every age group, and the top reason for adult females. Chronic diseases – the greatest health challenge facing Canada and much of the world – are also increasingly managed by family doctors.

Using data from the de-identified electronic medical record data of nearly half-a-million patients, the report is the first evidence-based, comprehensive picture of the role of family doctors in our health-care system and provides new insights into the health and wellbeing of the citizens of Toronto and beyond.

“This report reinforces the findings of international studies which show that having family medicine as the basis of a country’s health-care system keeps people healthier, reduces costs and ensures more equitable access to care,” says Dr. Michael Kidd, chair of U of T’s department of family and community medicine and one of the authors of the report.

“As we start to roll out Ontario Health Teams, this report provides timely evidence and insights into the central role of family doctors, and the members of our teams, in our health-care system.”

Beyond the treatment of common illnesses, many family doctors in Ontario deliver babies, work in emergency departments, provide palliative and end of life care, participate in research and innovation and much more. The diversity of patients and ailments seen by family doctors is quickly changing as well.

“The data in this report confirmed a number of trends we are seeing in health care,” says Dr. Karen Tu, lead author of the report, a co-director of the University of Toronto Practice-based Research Network and a professor in the department of family and community medicine with a cross appointment at the Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation.

“Mental health and chronic diseases are being treated by family doctors far more frequently. We are also continuing to see high rates of smoking and obesity, so it’s key to find new ways to help family doctors treat and support patients with these concerns.”

The report also highlights areas of care where family doctors can play an even larger role. For instance, only 63 per cent of Indigenous people living in Toronto have a regular family doctor or nurse practitioner, compared to 90 per cent of the general population. The report also tackles issues like the lack of access to palliative care by marginalized populations in the Greater Toronto Area, the health concerns of refugees and what family doctors are doing to address the ongoing opioid crisis.

“Not everyone knows or appreciates the breadth of services family doctors provide and the value family medicine brings to our health-care system,” says Kidd.

“Family medicine provides the solution to overcrowded emergency departments, the challenge of hallway medicine in our hospitals, and the inequities we see in access to quality health-care services.

“This report highlights the importance of family medicine as the foundation of a successful health-care system and reinforces the need for further investment in primary care to ensure that quality health care is available to all Canadians.”

How U of T doctors and students are helping Syrian refugees access health care

sgupta — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 10:46:43 +0000

How U of T doctors and students are helping Syrian refugees access health care sgupta Fri, 02/05/2016 - 05:46

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A new, Arabic-language whiteboard video from U of T's Dr. Mike Evans, star of YouTube, explains how to access health services in Canada (scroll down to watch the video)

Allison Mullin

Author legacy

Allison Mullin

Topic

Global Lens

Canada needs a universal drug plan – and it won't require tax increases, study finds

sgupta — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 11:14:24 +0000

Canada needs a universal drug plan – and it won't require tax increases, study finds sgupta Tue, 03/17/2015 - 07:14

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Employers and unions that offer employee drug benefit plans could save $8.2 billion under a universal public drug plan, researchers say (photo by Joseph via Flickr)

Allison Mullin

Author legacy

Allison Mullin

Allison Mullin

Family doctors play growing role in Toronto health-care system: U of T report

How U of T doctors and students are helping Syrian refugees access health care

Read more about Dr. Rashid and Crossroads Clinic

Canada needs a universal drug plan – and it won't require tax increases, study finds