Tracking the care deficit

January 13, 2023

Dr. Fredrykka-Rinaldi, AMA President

Dear Members:

Today I am releasing our latest tracking data on the care deficit and the impact on patient care disrupted by the pandemic. This survey took place in November 2022 and we have been tracking the care deficit since summer 2021. You can read the albertapatients.ca full report, but here are the highlights compared to March 2022. 

In our patient community, women, patients under 55 and those with chronic conditions are most affected by the care deficit.

There have been some improvements among respondents:

  • Fewer say their physical health is worse than before the pandemic (44%, down from 48%)
  • Fewer say their mental health is worse (48%, down from 65%)
  • Fewer are experiencing cancellations of non-urgent surgeries or procedures (9%, down from 14%)

The care deficit is worse in some areas for respondents:

  • More report their care has been disrupted (75% up from 59%)
    • Of those disrupted, 45% say their health has been negatively impacted, 10% a great deal.

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

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.'"

1 comment

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  • #1

    Doug Armstrong

    Physician

    4:58 PM on January 19, 2023

    I am a retired Family Physician and am distressed by the number of my non professional contacts that are suffering eg from severely painful hips which could very significantly be improved by surgery. The survey does not seem to address this severe deficit in medical care in Alberts. Since one of the mandates for graduate physicians is " to relieve suffering" we are failing.
    . I also believe that the personal touch (one of the pillars of effective care is art of Medicine) is significantly lost in the more impersonal changes in medical care is created by "telephone Medicine".
    I would be happy to expand this discussion should you wish in the future.
    Doug Armstrong, Ba BSc(Med) MD, Msc , PhD

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