Interprofessional

Imagine a Canada without family physicians. Here’s how it might look: Doctors are essentially all specialists, and there are plenty of them. A patient’s first point of contact with non-emergency care is a salaried health professional such as a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, naturopath or psychologist. Prevention and health promotion are tackled by these caregivers, working in teams that include dietitians and other counsellors. The primary care question is one in a series of “What If” articles, designed to be provocative, to shake things up, to get people talking.

An frank assessment of the future of family medicine and primary care in Canada takes the spotlight today as the Medical Post launches “What If?”—the most extraordinary series of stories the Med Post has ever undertaken. “What if…family doctors become extinct?” is the first question in the series to be asked—and answered—in this online feature package that also includes video introductions, audience feedback, polls and even the opportunity for readers to suggest their own “What If?” topic.