Pan-Canadian licensure: Potential impact on the rural physician workforce

Can J Rural Med. 2024 Jan 1;29(1):13-19. doi: 10.4103/cjrm.cjrm_19_23. Epub 2024 Feb 20.ABSTRACTProposals to establish pan-Canadian licensure for physicians have broad support amongst medical groups to address physician shortages in underserved rural communities. The concept has also elicited concern from some stakeholders that its implementation could exacerbate rural physician workforce shortages by prompting an exodus of rural physicians to urban centres. An environmental scan of reports from key medical groups published within the past 10 years was conducted to determine factors influencing rural physician practice patterns. Data from membership surveys of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada and the Canadian Medical Association - conducted in fall 2022 - were reviewed to determine whether licensure is a factor in rural physicians' decisions to leave or stay in practice in rural Canada. Factors contributing to physicians' decisions to leave rural practice identified in the environmental scan included lack of infrastructure support, inability to find locum coverage, inadequate support for team-based care and effects of high workloads on wellness. A common theme found in responses to the membership surveys was the recognition of licensing restrictions as barriers preventing rural physicians from practising in multiple provinces or territories. Survey respondents also voiced strong support for national licensure implementation. Pan-Canadian licensure holds promise as a ...
Source: Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine - Category: Rural Health Authors: Source Type: research