Strengthening Family Medicine in BC: What Good Care Depends On

Family doctors are central to care in BC, but delivering high-quality care depends on the systems that support them – from team structures to digital tools to rural access.

When people think about good health care, they often think about a great family doctor – someone who knows them by name, understands their history and takes the time to listen.

In BC, family doctors are the foundation of the health care system. They provide ongoing, relationship-based care, often managing everything from preventive screenings to complex, chronic conditions. Polls show around two-thirds of Canadians prefer to be seen by their family physician for non-urgent medical concerns, rather than by a health care provider they don’t know – even if they can see that person sooner. That’s how important their care is.

But the ability to deliver high-quality care consistently is shaped by factors that are less visible to patients: how care teams are structured, how information moves between providers and whether physicians have the kind of time and support that allows them to focus on their patients. Currently, 46% of BC family physicians report that up to half of their working hours are spent completing administrative tasks. And that’s one of the many barriers they face.

As demand for care grows and the health care system evolves, there is a clear opportunity to strengthen the foundations that make good care possible – starting with understanding today’s realities and addressing the factors needed for delivering quality care.

Strong, physician-led teams

Health care is not delivered by family doctors working in isolation. As patient needs become more complex – driven by chronic disease, aging populations and overlapping conditions – care increasingly depends on coordinated teams.

Family doctors are the foundation of that care. They provide the vast majority of longitudinal, relationship-based care in BC, and act as the ongoing point of contact for patients across multiple care providers. They also manage most chronic conditions, including hypertension and diabetes, allowing care to be proactive, personalized and grounded in a full understanding of the patient.

But while care is team-based in principle, teams are not always set up to support that reality in practice. In many cases, allied health professionals are assigned through broader system processes rather than integrated directly into clinic-based teams. This can create a disconnect between who is on the team and what patients actually need. It also limits the ability of family physicians to shape and coordinate care – despite being ultimately responsible for it.

The result is a structure that can work against itself. Even among physicians already working in team-based settings, 41% report that a lack of resources or funding is the biggest barrier to delivering care effectively. When teams are under-supported, coordination becomes more difficult, communication breaks down and continuity suffers.

Organizing care around a clear clinical lead – someone who understands the full picture of a patient’s health – brings clarity and accountability. After all, even when the right people are in place, teams still require leadership to deliver effective and coordinated patient care.

Time spent with patients – not paperwork

Much of a family doctor’s work no longer happens in the exam room.

It happens after hours or between appointments – reviewing reports, completing forms, tracking down information and coordinating care. While much of this work is necessary, the way it’s structured takes time away from direct patient care.

Nearly half of family physicians in BC report spending between 25% and 50% of their working hours on administrative tasks. And 67% say administrative demands have led them to reduce their hours or limit the scope of care they provide.

The impact is considerable: fewer available appointments, longer wait times and less time for follow-up – especially for patients with more complex needs. It also strains continuity of care, making it harder to maintain the consistent, relationship-based care that leads to better health outcomes.

Physicians are often required to navigate multiple disconnected systems to complete even routine tasks – from referrals to test results to care coordination. Reducing administrative burden and improving how information is shared across the system consistently rank among their top priorities.

Freeing up clinical time means giving physicians the ability to focus on diagnosing, listening and caring for their patients.

Connected information systems

A patient may see their family doctor, visit a specialist, fill a prescription and interact with multiple providers along the way. But too often, their information doesn’t follow them.

Instead, it remains siloed. In fact, 78% of physicians report they are unable to exchange patient clinical summaries with doctors outside their own practice.

The consequences are real. Tests are repeated because results aren’t accessible. Referrals are delayed while information is tracked down. Physicians are left making decisions without a complete view of a patient’s history.

This is inefficient and it compromises patient safety. When information is incomplete or delayed, the risk of error increases. On top of that, it adds to patient stress: having to repeatedly provide health information and history that can be deeply triggering. Digital tools are meant to streamline care, but when systems are fragmented, they can do the opposite.

The good news is that this is a fixable problem. Expanding digital referrals and consults, improving interoperability and moving toward more connected electronic medical record systems can significantly reduce friction and improve continuity across care.

Care in rural and remote communities

In many rural and remote communities across BC, family doctors provide emergency care, inpatient care and ongoing community-based care – often all at once, and sometimes as the only physician available for hundreds of kilometres.

What rural physicians consistently point to is the need for support, especially when they’re working alone. And real-time virtual support programs, such as CHARLiE for pediatrics and MaBAL for maternity care, are helping to fill that gap, connecting family doctors with specialists and peers when they need them most. These programs allow doctors to manage complex cases locally, reducing the need for patient transfers and strengthening care in place.

So far, they’re making a measurable difference – reaching 168 rural and Indigenous communities and helping avoid an estimated $34 million in medical travel costs. But beyond the numbers, the value is simple: knowing someone is available to consult at any hour can determine whether a physician stays in a rural community.

Strengthening care means strengthening conditions

Family doctors across British Columbia are already doing the work – managing complex conditions, coordinating care and building long-term relationships with their patients. But there’s still much work to be done.

The path forward will require strong collaborative efforts, but solutions are available. Family physician-led teams, less administrative friction, connected information systems and reliable support for rural and remote practice.

These are not optional improvements – they’re what good care depends on.

Learn more about how BC’s family doctors are being recognized and supported during BCCFP’s Family Doctor Month.