Family Medicine New Brunswick aims to transform primary care

The New Brunswick Medical Society (NBMS) has partnered with the Government of New Brunswick to introduce a new program that will change the way certain family physicians practice.

Family Medicine New Brunswick aims to improve patient access, increase collaboration between physicians using technology, and create a better work-life balance for physicians. Participating physicians will work in teams in order to improve service to their patients – including after-hours.

“Family medicine is often a patient’s first point of contact with the health-care system,” said Dr. Lynn Murphy-Kaulbeck, President of the New Brunswick Medical Society. “When it’s working at its best, it can result in improved access and health outcomes, more comprehensive and continuous care and chronic disease prevention, the most significant cost driver in health care today.”

Participating clinics will begin in the fall.

Patients of physicians who choose to participate this model will see changes in how their care is delivered. For example, if their doctor is unavailable, they have the option of booking an appointment with another physician on their usual provider’s “team”, who has complete access to their medical record. Patients will also be able to contact their doctor through phone or email for non-emergency medical questions.

This model is also expected to aid recruitment efforts by offering young physicians a more modern way to practice while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

“Drawing from best practices in Canada and around the world, this new model is tailored to New Brunswick,” continued Dr. Murphy-Kaulbeck. “This initiative has been, and will continue to be, physician-led, building on all of the work we have done over the past several years to design a better model for family medicine in New Brunswick.”

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