Family doctors in Saint John innovate to enhance the doctor-patient experience

New Brunswick is adding a second-team of six doctors to an innovative family medicine program that makes physicians available to patients at the click of the mouse and a stroke of a keyboard.

“Our patients are going to be able to phone us and have a phone consultation. They’re going to be able to book online using our electronic medical record, which is the province based system,” said Dr. Lyndsey MacDonald, a member of the Family Medicine New Brunswick model.

“In that same program, they will be able to ask us a question by sending us an electronic email.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "In that same program, they will be able to ask us a question by sending us an electronic email."

Using Saint John’s Regional Hospital as a backdrop, the province announced the addition of a second-team of six doctors to work under the new model. It’s a program intended to provide patients with enhanced access to family doctors without clogging up waiting rooms.

“It’s a better way for us to use our time. It’s a better way for our patients to have access to us with their healthcare questions,” MacDonald says.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's a better way for us to use our time. It's a better way for our patients to have access to us with their healthcare questions," MacDonald says.

According to Benoit Bourque, New Brunswick’s Health Minister, the program uses technology to improve patient access, to increase collaboration and to create a better work-life balance for doctors.

Participating doctors will work in teams to improve service to patients, including after hours.

“We believe that this model is a recruitment tool for us as a province because this provides an incentive for doctors providing this new type of work-life balance,” said Benoit Bourque, New Brunswick’s Health Minister.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We believe that this model is a recruitment tool for us as a province because this provides an incentive for doctors providing this new type of work-life balance," said Benoit Bourque, New Brunswick's Health Minister.

As it stands right now, the team of six family physicians see about 7,000 patients and aren’t currently accepting any new ones.

It’s hoped this new family medicine model will help attract more doctors to New Brunswick. Since 2014 the province has added about 40 new family doctors.

WATCH: Doctors Nova Scotia calling for end to ‘antiquated’ payment model

1:47 Doctors Nova Scotia calling for end to ‘antiquated’ payment model

The first team of doctors to implement the collaborative system was announced in January.

And the program has only been in place a few short weeks, but it’s caught the attention of many holding a MD.

“Some physicians from outside the province have contacted us and looked at potentially coming in,” MacDonald says.

It appears young doctors are interested in this new “modern way” to practice medicine.

Another team of four doctors was formed in Oromocto back in January.