As the government of Nova Scotia works to establish collaborative health care as the standard across the province, doctors want to ensure their voices are heard.
Doctors Nova Scotia just released position papers on how to improve health care.
Our primary care position paper makes 11 recommendations to improve primary health care for Nova Scotians — https://t.co/dxeFHcLz9z
— Doctors Nova Scotia (@Doctors_NS) April 12, 2017
President, Dr. Michelle Dow says they agree the current system is broken and a collaborative model would address many issues for patients, doctors and government.
“We know that if doctors are engaged from the beginning or you have buy-in, we’re going to accept those changes and this transition much better. Instead of being reactive we want to be proactive.”
Dow says Doctors Nova Scotia want to be part of the health care conversation with government.
She expects collaborative health care centres will be the standard across the province within the next fifteen years.
Dow says the province is on the right track, but aren’t involving doctors as much as they should.
“Doctors Nova Scotia is the collective voice of all the physicians in Nova Scotia and we need to be at those tables from day one.”
Dow says the province needs to do a better job of retaining young doctors.
She says many are working within a collaborative care model during their training and enjoy the support they offer.
But Dow says changing to a collaborative model will also mean changing how doctors are paid and how patients relate to their physicians.