specialists

Ontario’s Medical Community is speaking out on the need to improve access to specialists.

A survey finds 20% of patients are waiting six months or longer to see a specialist.

The number increases to 36% among patients from northern Ontario.

The Ontario Medical Association says a centralized intake system could help reduce wait times.

President Dr. Rebecca Hicks says systems exist for certain procedures and could be expanded.

“We’d like to see what has worked in those systems and bring it forward as we expand outwards,” says Dr. Hicks.

Past-president Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman says long wait times have led some patients and doctors to use social media to find specialists.

“Our patients and also our physicians are using Facebook groups, WhatsApp groups to actually find the community-based specialists to connect patients to care,” says Dr. Abdurrahman.

“We need a centralized system that’s going to allow for patients to be able to, if they can, go further to get faster care, to be able to know that these opportunities are there, and just to also know who is in practice and where.”

The OMA also wants government to strengthen support for community-based specialist practices.

Dr. Hicks says it is becoming harder to sustain a practice because of rising overhead costs, administrative burden and staffing shortages.

She says the clinics are critical to reducing wait times and keeping services closer to home.

“Giving doctors access to nurses, allied health professionals, and administrative support can increase capacity, improve coordination, and help more patients receive treatment sooner,” says Dr. Hicks.