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From the Primary Care Alliance
The COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid response required by physicians and others in the health care system has superseded much of the political mire that surrounds us. Our focus has been, and always will be, on patient care. While that is in our nature as family physicians, and we will continue to put patient care first, we should not give government a free pass on the contractual issues facing us. This is not the time for government to be precipitating a crisis in health care. When this pandemic is over society will remember the dedication of Alberta’s family physicians despite the challenges in our environment.
The adaptability of primary care has shone through yet again, as in just a few short weeks we’ve rapidly embraced virtual care. There is outcome-based evidence for the value of virtual care as a part of a comprehensive practice. The temporary billing codes provide some relief in our immediate circumstance, but the codes are far from adequate to ensure practice viability. All the partners at the Primary Care Alliance continue to coordinate advocacy on behalf of family physicians.
We could choose to look at the sudden introduction of the Babylon platform as a worthy rival in the virtual care space as despite all the negative pushback it seems like the service is here to stay. I would encourage you to consider practicing existential flexibility in using virtual tools to demonstrate the superior safety and performance of virtual care – when used as a complementary tool in the Patient’s Medical Home model – compared with an application that amounts to a virtual walk-in practice. When someone looks back in time and compares outcomes, I am confident continuity will stand the test of time.
Remember too, that our connections and networks - both professional and personal - will help us survive both the pandemic and the current crisis in family medicine. Consider being socially present (connecting with grassroots family physician groups, formal leadership groups and clinical alliances) while remaining physically isolated. Stay informed through the AMA President’s Letter and Section of Family Medicine Bulletin and above all, protect yourselves as much as possible.
Dr. Brad Bahler
Chair
Primary Care Alliance
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