General practice in Canada.

Abstract

Medical practice in Canada is in a stage of rapid change. All provinces now have government insurance schemes which pay for hospital care and physician services. Health care is being reorganized in several provinces. The pattern evolving is a three–tier system, with health centers for primary care, district hospitals for inpatient care, and regional hospitals—usually teaching hospitals—for highly specialized services. A regional administrative structure is being developed. Although many variations exist the general practitioner (family physician) is still the major source of primary care. Current trends indicate that in the future the family physician will continue to be the usual source of primary and continuing health care. General practitioners in Canada normally have hospital admission privileges. Although the role of the general practitioner in hospital is changing, there is no indication that the general practitioner will cease to play a part in hospital care. Nurses are beginning to play a more important role in primary health care. Most Canadian medical schools now have departments or divisions of family medicine. The College of Family Physicians has played a major part in establishing postgraduate training for family practice.