BC residents rank preferred points of care: MDs far out in front, with nurses, NPs and pharmacists far behind

Vancouver | British Columbia residents have sounded off on the quality of healthcare they receive, and have re-affirmed the central role of family doctors as their primary point of contact when they need care.These are the conclusion of a B.C. Medical Association-commissioned survey, the results of which were released recently.According to the survey conducted by Ipsos Reid, six-in-ten (62%) British Columbians say they want a ‘doctor’ as their first point of contact with the health care system. This places doctors well ahead of ‘nurses’ (13%), ‘nurse practitioners’ (12%) and ‘pharmacists’ (2%).Nearly eight-in-ten (78%) British Columbians say they would most like to have a ‘family doctor’ coordinating their overall health care.This puts family doctors far ahead of ‘nurse practitioners’ (7%), ‘nurses’ (3%) and ‘pharmacists’ (1%), said the BCMA, in a press release of the survey’s findings.Meanwhile, wait times and doctor shortages were said to be the two biggest top-of-mind problems or challenges that British Columbians think are facing health care in their province today.One-in-four (25%) residents mention “wait times/ waiting lists” while nearly two-in-ten (18%) mention “doctor shortages”. Other top-of-mind health care issues include “aging population” (10%), “general staffing shortages” (9%) and “hospital overcrowding/ lack of beds” (8%).Similar items top the issue agenda when respondents were asked to select three items from a list of seven possible priorities for helping BC’s health care system deal with the impact aging boomers will have on the system in the next few years. Number one on the priority list is “reducing surgical waitlists” which is selected by two-thirds (64%) of British Columbians as a top-three priority. Next highest is “ensuring everyone has a family doctor” (49%) and “ensuring quick access in emergency rooms” (43%).Lower ranked priorities include “expanding prevention services” (35%), “building public long term care beds” (30%), “expanding prescription drug coverage” (30%) and “ensuring rural areas of the province have greater access to care” (27%).Furthermore, the BCMA provided differences across demographics include the following:• “Reducing surgical waitlists” is more likely to be selected by older residents (70% among 55+ years vs. 60% among 18-34 years, 63% among 35-54 years).• “Ensuring everyone has a family doctor” is more likely to be selected by Vancouver Island residents (60% vs. 47% in Metro Vancouver, 45% in Interior/North) and women (53% vs. 44% of men).• “Ensuring quick access in emergency rooms” is more likely to be selected by younger residents (45% of 18-34 years, 49% of 35-54 years vs. 35% of 55+ years).• “Expanding prevention services” is more likely to be selected by older residents (36% of 55+ years, 38% of 35-54 years vs. 29% of 18-34 years).• “Building public long term care beds” is more likely to be selected by older residents (37% of 55+ years vs. 23% of 18-34 years, 29% of 35-54 years).• “Ensuring rural areas of the province have greater access to care” is more likely to be selected in the Interior/North (37% vs. 23% on Vancouver Island, 22% in Metro Vancouver).British Columbians generally disapprove of the job the current provincial government is doing when it comes to managing health care in British Columbia. Only one-third (35%) of residents say they approve of the government’s performance, including 4% who ‘approve strongly’ and 31% who ‘approve somewhat’. Six-in-ten (60%) say they disapprove, including 27% who ‘disapprove strongly’ and 33% who ‘disapprove somewhat’.• Government approval on health care is higher among men (42% vs. 28% among women).When it comes to health-care spending, British Columbians are split on the idea of whether the provincial government should set a limit on health care spending so that it does not increase beyond 50% of the budget.Nearly half (45%) of residents say they support this limit on spending, including 11% who ‘support strongly’ and 35% who ‘support somewhat’. Four-in-ten (40%) oppose a 50% spending limit, including 16% who ‘oppose strongly’ and 24% who ‘oppose somewhat’. Fourteen percent of British Columbians are undecided about this idea.• Support for a 50% spending cap is higher among men (52% vs. 39% among women).

BC residents rank preferred points of care: MDs far out in front, with nurses, NPs and pharmacists far behind

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