Editorial: The Saving Time Issue

Looking at fun, practical and hope-filled techniques to save time

The shortage of longitudinal family physicians is causing the entire healthcare system to creak: huge numbers of orphan patients, hospitals trying to fill gaps and emergency departments frequently overwhelmed.

So a Saving Time themed issue may seem like a joke in such an environment when the time pressures clinicians face are so significant with increasing administrative tasks, patient loads and systemic inefficiencies. One can also feel so overwhelmed with the time pressures of the day that the idea of spending more time trying to find efficiencies can seem ridiculous.?

But that, alas, is the nature of finding solutions. For this issue of the magazine, our reporters talked to smart doctors across the nation about techniques to manage work overload and again and again the solutions involve change. For instance, the article “Take time to make time” (page 11) looks at where to find the low-hanging fruit to improve your clinic’s efficiency.?

“The fine art of delegating” (page 29) examines just when one can get someone else to do something—both in the clinic and at home. “Physicians hesitate about delegation because there is an initial investment of time,” said Dr. Stephanie Zhou in that article. “However, it’s important to think long-term as that initial investment of time pays off long term.” Another barrier to delegation the article examines? Physicians’ tendency to be perfectionists who have trouble letting go.

Plus, an article on page 16 gathers some of our doctor-readers’ timesaving tips, and page 27 looks at fun and useful apps for busy doctors.

The exciting thing about planning to take the time to try something new to combat overwhelm is that rush of hope one feels (and ideally most of the time the investment pays off).

Of course, finding techniques to personally save time can feel like doctors are trying to make up for a lack of systemic change. But some provinces, like B.C., are now paying family doctors for indirect patient care (page 31). Manitoba and Nova Scotia also have similar programs, and rumour has it that Ontario doctors may have something soon.?

So this issue is like a self-help book for doctors in magazine form. We hope that you find solutions in these pages you can apply to ease today’s burdens as we wait for more systemic change.

Speaking of time, the Medical Post is entering its 60th year! The first issue—of what began as a newspaper—came out Sept. 14, 1965. We’ll be celebrating our past and future on our online home—CanadianHealthcareNetwork.ca—this year.?

This article is from the Medical Post magazine. Physicians can register at our online home: CanadianHealthcareNetwork.ca.