Doctors’ pay model needs to change to end ‘one issue per visit’ policy: advocacy group

HALIFAX – A provincial health care advocacy group says that the way doctors are paid needs to be changed in order to end the practice of doctors dealing with only one health issue per visit.

Like in other provinces, most Nova Scotia doctors are paid generally between $30-40 per visit depending on the kind of care needed and age of the patient.

“This is really the norm,” said Hutt regarding the policy.

Adam Wedgewood, who lives in Upper Hammonds Plains, said he experienced this type of policy firsthand.

A couple of weeks ago, he took time off work to visit his family doctor, Dr. Gerald Myatt, on the Halifax peninsula. Wedgewood said he got a referral for an issue with his wrist but when he asked for a referral for massage therapy for his back problems, Myatt said another appointment would need to be scheduled.

“I felt like I wasn’t asking him to give me treatment for an issue, I simply needed a referral so I could get treatment somewhere else,” said Wedgewood.

He went to a nearby walk-in clinic and got the referral in five minutes.

Global News asked Myatt’s office for an interview but was told he was “unavailable” by the receptionist.

A notice in his office reads: “Only one problem per visit in order to minimize waiting times for patients.”

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“They’re not standards or policies which require a physician’s adherence,” said Dr. Gus Grant, CEO of the organization, regarding the guidelines.

He acknowledged that these policies are an issue, but a minor one under the umbrella of problems of accessing to medical care.

“Could this form the basis of an investigation, absolutely,” said Grant about Myatt’s sign.

Kevin Chapman, director of strategy and partnerships at Doctors Nova Scotia, said that these kind of policies aren’t a huge problem either but changes are in the works.

Wedgewood said he has already filed a complaint. He also plans to find a new doctor.