Medical Society of P.E.I. plans legal action over alleged breach of contract
CBC
The Medical Society of Prince Edward Island plans legal action against Health P.E.I. over an update to targets for family physicians.
The society says the new targets are going to drive family physicians out of the province, and said it has been "stonewalled" when it comes to consultation with the government.
Health P.E.I.'s new operational guide includes key performance indicators, or KPIs, that include a requirement that each family doctor will see 24 patients a day, based on an average appointment being 15 minutes long.
It also says each full-time family doctor should have a minimum of 1,600 patients on the books. Penalties can be imposed if the minimum isn't met.
"Early feedback suggests these KPIs risk making family practice unsustainable, will drive physicians out of P.E.I., and deter new physicians from practicing in P.E.I.," the medical society said in a June 3 letter to its members.
"MSPEI will respond to Health PEI with legal action."
Dr. Krista Cassell, the society's executive director, said that the targets were not discussed with doctors. She said they had been feeling good about a new contract signed just last year.
"This was transformational," she said. 'It was a very competitive contract. It really was the best in the country, and we were incredibly excited for this."
But Cassell said it became much harder earlier this year to have productive conversations with Health P.E.I. and the Department of Health and Wellness. Then the society learned about the new guide.
CBC asked for an interview with provincial officials. It received a statement from Health P.E.I. CEO Melanie Fraser.
"We are working with the Medical Society of PEI and the Government of Prince Edward Island to implement the physician services agreement in a way that supports physicians and strengthens our health-care system," said Fraser. "We are committed to doing that process within the terms of the agreement."
The statement also said the province "made an historic investment of $188 million in the new physician services agreement, which puts P.E.I. longitudinal family physicians amongst the top earners in the country, with a 36 per cent increase."
It also cited the ability for doctors to diversify their practice, a reduction in administrative work, and "unprecedented vacation, maternity and paternity benefits."
Cassell said the agreement held a lot of potential for helping a strained health-care system.
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