CaRMS numbers alarming

March 27, 2023

Dr. Fredrykka Rinaldi, AMA PresidentDear Members,

The first round CaRMS numbers from last week are alarming. We have 42 unmatched family medicine residency positions in Alberta. In BC there are two; in Saskatchewan, none.

Government needs to act urgently. Years of underfunding and uncertainty have put a strain on primary care in this province and have resulted in a disincentive for learners looking to Alberta as a place to train.

Family medicine is in crisis. Out of the ashes of decimated family care a new generation of physicians will arise? The numbers say not. 

The AMA is working on initiatives with government to build up primary care. We have been emphasizing that working on long-term transformation of primary care has value, but there are urgent needs today. Those urgent solutions have been repeatedly presented to government. The CaRMS numbers speak for themselves; time is running out.

You are always welcome to share your thoughts with me. You can email me via president@albertadoctors.org. You can also comment on this letter on the AMA website.

Regards,

fred Rinaldi, MD, CCFP, FCFP, LLB, MBA, MPA(HSA), BCom
President, Alberta Medical Association

"Fate whispers to the warrior, 'You can not withstand the storm.' The warrior whispers back, 'I am the storm.'"

13 comments

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  • #11

    andy jarema

    Physician

    7:06 PM on March 28, 2023

    a perfect storm - a confluence of overlapping factors:: medical education > training enrolment positions inadequate to keep pace with increasing population [birthrates/relocation/immigration] + ? unappealing / inadequate medical training-curriculum fostering needed competencies / confidence in family medicine graduates + lack of recognition of IMG's of Canadian ancestry, who have been forced to train abroad due to lack of positions in Canadian medical schools + chronically overburdened practitioners in practices with lack of recognition & support for all the extraneous bureaucratic expectations & undertakings mandated in daily practice in order to facilitate patient care / referrals / documentations & documents [3rd party et al] + chronic/longstanding/ongoing marginalization of all "generalists" {but primarily family docs} by the inadequate fee schedule [especially in recognizing chronic care in multiply overlapping co -morbid aged patients -forming an increasing demographic]; questionable attenuated policies & practices in integrating foreign trained IMG's! @ some point, some serious brainstorming needs to occur in multiple formats by a cross-section of stakeholders in order to debate all of the above factors - in order to form a consensus of reasoned opinion, to address the multiplicity of factors leading to a shortage of primary care providers & address the apparent perception - that family practice is no longer a desirable goal or occupational life choice ?!

  • #12

    Neha Aboudi

    Other health care professional

    10:04 AM on March 29, 2023

    In response to PeterH [comment #10]

    No IMGs cannot apply for the 42 spots. They are restricted to CMGs only.

  • #13

    Nachiket Karnik

    Physician

    9:08 PM on March 29, 2023

    Why is everyone surprised about the low enrollment to family medicine? The elephant in the room is that Family Physician are being paid about half what they should be and absolutely nobody wants to do anything to help.

    "You have to pay a guy what he is worth, or he ain't gonna do the job." Medical students are too smart to be brainwashed into believing "Family Medicine is a wonderful career option." They see us working long hours to simply "float the boat." For God's sake, in Family Medicine it is a reality that a Family Physician may not be able to simply make mortgage payments on a simple 1200 sq ft home! No medical student is going to enter such a career and sell themselves short!! Please wake up!!!

    Currently, our billing schedule rewards high volume, episodic, low acuity care and penalizes diligent, complex, chronic care focused on high quality continuity or care. This needs to CHANGE!!

    I don't need more "office support." I need to be paid what I am worth!!! Please don't waste your efforts on anything else!

Alberta Medical Association Mission: Advocate for and support Alberta physicians. Strengthen their leadership in the provision of sustainable quality care.