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Finding a family physician is tough with doctor shortage

I've been shopping for one of the most important relationships in my life - my family doctor. My Tsawwassen doctor retired almost two years ago and it's been an arduous journey trying to replace her.

I've been shopping for one of the most important relationships in my life - my family doctor. My Tsawwassen doctor retired almost two years ago and it's been an arduous journey trying to replace her.

My first doctor-patient relationship started at 15. He was wonderful and guided me through the births of both my children. When he decided to move to an independent medical clinic that charges a fee, it was time to part ways. Finding a new doctor was not a hardship.

Fast-forward to 2017 and times have changed. Approximately 700,000 people in B.C. do not have a family doctor, which equates to 15 per cent of our population. Doctors are retiring at a rapid pace and medical school grads are rejecting family medicine. Our community is having a terrible time attracting them to work here and once they get here, they don't often stay.

When you find a doctor that is accepting new patients, the first step is the meet and greet. I have a lot of experience with this. It's brief, and I mean brief, taking as much as 15 minutes but usually less than 10.

My meet and greets with potential doctors have been dismal. Young or old, the doctors made me feel they were doing me a favour by seeing me. There was rarely an attempt to engage or a curiosity to find out much about me and they were all in a rush.

I don't think my expectations are extravagant: look me in the eye, smile and shake my hand. That's a good start. Ask me about myself, other than, "Any health concerns?" Maybe you might like to know if I'm married, how many children I have and what I do for a living.

I would like to know something about you: Where were you educated? Why did you choose family medicine? Are you going to stay? One prospective doctor typed rapidly at his computer with his back to me while I spilled out my medical history as quickly as possible. "I can stop talking until you've finished typing," I said. "No, that's OK, keep talking," he replied as the sound of his fingers tapping the keyboard almost drowned me out.

I even went as far as Kerrisdale to meet a doctor I had researched. I loved her the moment I met her, but was disappointed to discover the receptionist was incorrect, she was not taking new patients as she was moving to the B.C. Cancer Agency.

And why wouldn't she? Doctors working at hospitals are paid $150 an hour while family physicians are paid $30 per patient visit. Doctors don't want to work 80 hours a week, and overhead costs for a private practice are onerous. I am sympathetic and government needs to do more to support our family physicians so they're not overextended and jaded.

I'm still shopping because I haven't found the right fit. Like a good shoe, my new doctor should be comfortable, dependable and, with a good soul, pinch a little if I'm overdoing it.

Ingrid Abbott is a freelance writer and broadcaster who prefers to shop for shoes rather than doctors.