(Doug Kobayashi, mayor of Colwood, B.C.) idea was straightforward. After talking to doctors in 2022 about what was important to them, many said less paperwork, more financial stability and a better work/life balance.
Kobayashi’s response: Make them municipal employees. This differs from the usual system where many family doctors in Canada are independent contractors and responsible for all aspects of the business plus seeing patients.
“As an employee, we want you to be a doctor 100 per cent of the time. No more administration, we’ll look after this. We’ll look after hiring your medical office assistants. We will give you a salary, a fixed salary. We will give you benefits, all the benefits,” Kobayashi said.
I could see them causing trouble if wages were too far one way or another from what other family practitioners were making, but otherwise I would be surprised. The smart thing for the municipality to do would be to consult the college as they set up this program so that the college can feel as though they had a hand in it. I’m sure they have awareness that family medicine is a discipline having a really hard time attracting and retaining doctors, and if by eliminating some of the administrative drawbacks this municipality is creating a more appealing model, then I don’t see why they would be against it.
You would be surprised to hear some of the things that go on dictated by the college in various provinces. Please do not assume about them. It’s in your own best interest.