The 10-year vision by the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, the College of Family Physicians and MUN’s school of family medicine is presented as the government lacks funds to increase spending. The organizations believe improving family medicine is the best way forward. The plan includes doctors being more accessible and giving them more control over a patient's care. It would also see a new payment model for doctors who want an alternative to the fee-for-service system for those who want to spend more time with patients and organize a team approach, such as models being adopted in Ontario, Alberta, B.C. and N.B. The plan also calls for better access to technology such as electronic record-keeping and a better distribution of resources throughout the province. The plan also calls for a physician retention study within one year and a study to determine how many family doctors are needed within two years.
NBHC Sustainability