Registry lists doctorless patients
There are at least 1,630 Yukoners without a family doctor.
There are at least 1,630 Yukoners without a family doctor.
In December 2012, the Department of Health and Social Services launched an online registry to determine how many residents lacked a physician. That registry closed at midnight Monday.
The registry was self-reported, so it's unlikely everyone without a doctor is represented on the list.
But Pat Living, the department's director of communications, said officials tried their best to work with Whitehorse General Hospital, NGOs, and other care providers to get as many people as they could signed on.
The registry was mainly a data gathering project. However, Yukoners were also given the option of providing contact information to the department with the hope that they would be matched up with any new doctors arriving in the territory.
Whitehorse is expected to get four new doctors in January, but the department doesn't have a plan to match patients with the new physicians just yet.
Living said the department is working with the Yukon Medical Association on a strategy.
"It was always hoped that we could match people up, but that was not the original intent of the registry,” she said.
"The registry was just for us to get a handle on how many folks were without a doctor so we knew how many physicians we actually need in the territory to service that population.
"We are working with physicians to see how we can do a match up,” she said.
Usually, the department will place ads welcoming new doctors to the territory, telling the public what clinic they're at and how they can be reached. That at least can be expected for the four new doctors arriving in January as well.
"I think with these new physicians coming in that that will be a really good match for the number of folks out there,” said Living.
"But in addition, it also lets the department explore some additional options, using nurse practitioners, exploring collaborative care, creating new partnerships.”
The department has not yet discussed whether the registry will be reopened to monitor progress on the doctor situation in the territory, but Living said it's something they might consider.
Comments (3)
Up 8 Down 2
Where are the Doctors? on Oct 3, 2013 at 7:44 am
So where would one find these new doctors? I have been on a wait list with every clinic in town (whether they really have a list or just take your name to please you is another issue)
What clinics will these new doctors be at so we can go an attempt to see if they will take us as new patients?
Up 5 Down 2
Wundering on Oct 2, 2013 at 11:37 pm
How hard did they try to ensure everyone without a doctor was signed up? Not very.
Kind of like recent survey on Health act supposed to be mail outs to all Yukoners, I have 2 address's and never received one at either address.
Up 8 Down 2
Max Mack on Oct 2, 2013 at 11:55 am
Living, HSS and the YMA have been abundantly aware of the chronic doctor shortage in the territory. Their big fix? An "online registry".
What a load of horse poop.
I, and many other people, have not "registered". The entire exercise is designed to be a distraction from the real issues, which are still not being addressed.