100,000 Vancouverites are without a family doctor and about 24,000 are actively looking.

I’m helping promote a Vancouver based campaign called A GP For Me Vancouver. It is being led by the Vancouver Division of Family Practice as part of a province-wide program of the Government of BC and Doctors of BC to help more citizens  have a family doctor.

The initiative is based on the knowledge that when people have a strong relationship with a family doctor:

Patient Heath Improves

Research shows that patients are healthier–they don’t get sick as often, go to hospital emergencies or end up in a hospital bed.

System Health Improves

Nearly 80% of our interactions with the health care system are with family doctors. When one doctor is overseeing your care they can co-ordinate and manage your health by ordering tests and setting up appointments with a specialist.

Positive Economic Impact

Research conducted in BC shows it costs less to look after patients who have a family doctor, especially if they have chronic conditions like diabetes.

However, in my city, 100,000 Vancouverites are without a family doctor and about 24,000 are actively looking. To address this gap, local family doctors are thinking of ways to improve the care they offer to you and are building a plan together with citizens, health authority partners, government and community organizations to make this happen.