Without a family doctor? Physicians offer some short-term solutions

Millions of Canadians are without a family doctor, and with long waits at ERs and walk-in clinics, many are wondering where they can get the care they need.

So how can people make sure their health is taken care of when they don't have a regular primary care provider?

There isn't one answer, as individual health needs are complex and can vary based on factors like age, family history and any existing chronic illnesses. The first tip is not to give up on finding a family physician, as many doctors agree that people should have a family doctor or primary care provider.

"We need that continuity of care to make sure that you don't get into trouble," Dr. Peter Lin, a family doctor in Toronto, and a director of the Canadian Heart Research Centre, told Dr. Brian Goldman on The Dose. 

"Family doctors … primary care [providers], nurse practitioners … are really good at pattern recognition to try and figure out what's going on and put the pieces together."

Family doctors say there are some ways people can take care of themselves in the short-term, but that they should continue looking for a primary care provider.

"Even if you're healthy, you should look for a family doctor, because you don't know when you're going to get sick," said Dr. Yvette Lu, a community family physician who works in Surrey, B.C.

Doctors say there are several ways to find a family doctor, as the process can vary from province to province. 

Lin suggests people start by asking family or friends if their doctor is accepting new patients. 

If that isn't an option, he suggests looking for clinics and physician groups still accepting new patients on the website for their province or territory's College of Physicians and Surgeons or other regulating body. 

Depending on where you live, there may be specific services available to find a family doctor.

For example, in B.C. — a province where almost a million residents don't have a family doctor — the website Pathways Medical Directory is an option to help find a provider, Lu said. 

In Ontario, residents can sign up for Health Care Connect, a service that connects someone with a nurse who will "search for a doctor or nurse practitioner who is accepting new patients in your community," according to the provincial website.

Lu says the provincial healthline that exists in many provinces — call 811 in B.C. and Alberta — can also help people access services in their community.