The government of Saskatchewan is offering more money to physicians and clinics to entice them to stay open after hours.
Funding is being made available to after-hours urgent care and walk-in care with the aim of trying to improve patient access to family doctors after an agreement in principle between the province and the Saskatchewan Medical Association.
“Ensuring patients have access to family physicians and primary care services remains a top priority for our government,” Health Minister Paul Merriman said.
Merriman said the government is working “closely” with the Saskatchewan Medical Association (SMA) and is responding to the concerns of family physicians regarding fee-for-service.
“We know there is more work to do, and our government will continue to make record investments to build a stronger health-care system that works for everyone.”
All community-based, full-service, fee-for-service family physicians will be eligible for an additional payment per visit service.
The province said these changes could result in more care access for patients during evenings, weekends and holidays, and could potentially reduce the number of patients going to emergency rooms for less severe needs.
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“Patients’ access to family physicians is a serious problem and these measures — while not a comprehensive solution — will help with access while reducing the pressure on emergency departments,” said SMA president Dr. John Gjevre.
Gjevre said this could help clinics struggling with staffing or resources to offer extended hours.
“We continue to work with the Ministry of Health on other changes — including a new compensation model for fee-for-service family physicians and a move to family physician-led care teams in the community. We believe strongly such changes will further help address the pressures our patients and family physicians are experiencing. We must retain the community of Saskatchewan family physicians providing full-service family medicine while ensuring Saskatchewan is an attractive place for future family physicians to work,” Gjevre added.
“We hope to see progress soon.”
Dr. Adam Ogieglo, a practicing physician in Saskatoon, said he already works extended hours, but said he’s heard from other colleagues that these changes will make it more appealing.
“I think this is a step in the right direction, and a bridge while we bring in the greater changes that are needed within our health-care system,” Ogieglo said.
He said greater reforms are needed in the primary care system, and they’re needed as quickly as possible.
Ogieglo said he’s seen a move away from after-hours care in Saskatoon, noting some clinics have had to contract their hours.
“A move like this can potentially reverse that change and move things in the right direction.”
He noted that he’d like to see the blended capitation model that B.C. has come to Saskatchewan rather than the current fees-for-service.
Blended capitation is a model where doctors get paid a base amount based on the number of patients in a practice for base services, but extra money would get paid out for work outside of that scope, like delivering babies or anesthesia, or work that often goes unpaid like filling out insurance forms.
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