B.C. doctors spend too much time on ‘unnecessary’ administration: Business group says

Doctors in British Columbia, and around the country, are spending too much time doing paperwork when they could be seeing patients, new research from a national business group has found.

In the latest research to come from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), the lobby group’s research suggests doctors in B.C. are spending 2.6 million hours per year doing “unnecessary administrative duties.”

“Red tape hurts everyone, and we should be looking to reduce it wherever we can, especially where it promises to free up time in areas we care about,” Laura Jones, CFIB executive vice president and co-author of the report said. “Whether we are talking about healthcare availability or housing affordability, red tape reduction should be part of the solution. This is common sense that is too often overlooked.”

The federation says that equates to approximately 8 million possible visits by patients, each year.

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The research, Patients before Paperwork, says medical associations around the country have been pushing governments of all levels to lighten up on red tape that physicians need to complete, but to no avail.

“For years, medical associations have urged governments to address the physician administrative burden because of the negative impact it has on physicians and their patients,” Dr. Candace Bradshaw, President of Doctors Manitoba, said. “Not only does red tape limit a physician’s ability to see their existing patients and take on new ones, but it is also a significant cause of physician burnout, which is at an all-time high. Physicians appreciate the attention CFIB is bringing to this important topic, and we hope governments across Canada will act.”

However, the lobby group says for its part, B.C. beginning to cut red tape to help recruit and retain healthcare workers in the province.

“The BC government is already using red tape reduction as a tool to recruit and retain more nurses and doctors,” Jairo Yunis, B.C. senior policy analyst, said. “This work and reducing physician red tape are concrete and measurable steps the government can take to avoid physician burnout and improve patient care. Even a small reduction in the physician administrative burden can have a significant positive impact on the lives of British Columbians and doctors.”

Even a small reduction in the administrative burden placed on General Practitioners and other doctors can have a significant positive impact, the research says.