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Opinion: It's time for Alberta’s doctors to step up for their patients https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-its-time-for-albertas-doctors-to-step-up-for-their-patients/wcm/85eec746-1841-49f1-b917-a5a4f729431e/ This article was posted because Colum Smith was a former Dean of Medicine at the U of S and as such he is automatically gifted with authority - he must know what 's what right?
First of all he seems not to be familiar with changes in medical education that are at least a decade old. Most medical training does not occur in hospital settings, as once was the case. students now have significant outpatient and community experiences during almost all of
clerkship and residents will train in the primary setting that their specialty trains in. So no. most of medical school training and residency training by default no longer happens in tertiary and secondary care institutions. I know I was very recently the Assistant Dean
Academic Affairs at the U of A and it was my job to help student navigate their studies. I have also had significant roles in pgme throughout my career. Secondly there is absolutely nothing wrong with physicians considering lifestyle in their career choices and where to live.
and where to work. The CMA code of ethics and CPSA actually ties professionalism to self-care and defines self-care as a necessary professional behaviour. The notion that this is not important is very old, white, and euro-centric thinking that has led to and promoted a culture
abuse and entitlement that we are working to remedy. I suppose a former dean should be aware of this, but depending on his focus he may not be. As far as accountability goes, I also disagree. If physicians were to "work to rule" there would be a reduction in service
with rare exceptions physicians are accountable. They get paid for the work they do and if they are not working they don't get paid. Very few physicians are on a salary that is not linked to their work. There is also accountability through patients. Our patients are
vocal and we work together and keep each other accountable for our work. There is no perfect system but to imply that physicians are on the golf course while patients suffer is ridiculous in the extreme. And while he didn't say this, he certainly implied it.
While Colum may not think that every community needs a doc - patients do. Patient centred care is behind the attempts to recruit patients. Remote medicine may solve some of this but a doctor becomes part of the community that he lives in and this brings value and mutual respect
And finally, if you have a look at what the AMA has proposed, at no time have doctors asked for more money. Colum is not presenting the facts on that one. Its disappointing. Don't let his credentials fool you, don't slack off and take his word or mine for it. Have a look
for yourself. @Albertadoctors @UbakaOgbogu @DShepYEG @RachelNotley We all need to be responsible and really look at the credibility of what anyone is publishing or posting. This article is full of politicized statements and is unhelpful in shedding light on the real issues.
Here is the alberta medical association summary of the issues. More money is not the issue, read it carefully. https://www.albertadoctors.org/services/physicians/our-agreements/take-yes-for-an-answer
Here is a link to the Canadian Medical Associations Code of ethics and professionalism that mentions, among other things self-care as part of professional behaviour:
https://policybase.cma.ca/documents/policypdf/PD19-03.pdf
https://policybase.cma.ca/documents/policypdf/PD19-03.pdf
