Family doctors who wish to take phased retirement will be able to do so from now on. The College of Physicians, the Federation of General Practitioners of Quebec (FMOQ) and the Ministry of Health and Social Services published on Friday an accompanying guide setting out the rules to follow when slowing down activities at the end of one’s career. According to the FMOQ, a few dozen doctors could extend their professional lives thanks to this new avenue.
Around 1,200 family doctors, out of the 7,600 who provide care in offices, are 65 years or older in Quebec. They alone monitor nearly 900,000 registered patients, half of whom are considered “vulnerable”.
It was in an attempt to delay their retirement that the College of Physicians of Quebec (CMQ) launched a work project three years ago, in collaboration with the FMOQ and the government. According to the CMQ, doctors who wanted to reduce the pace “often opted, with regret”, for a complete cessation of their practice “for lack of being able to transfer their patients”.
The new accompanying guide sets out the ethical obligations of doctors who reduce their professional activities by transferring patients. In particular, it provides standard messages and letters to communicate to its customers.
A few dozen at the start, estimates the FMOQ
The guide also indicates which patients must be maintained in the clientele of the doctor who wishes to take gradual retirement. “For example, a patient who is being investigated for suspected cancer, who is unstable in terms of his mental health, is adjusting his medication or is off work and therefore close follow-ups must be carried out” , specifies the Dr Anne-Louise Boucher, director at the FMOQ.
The FMOQ does not expect hundreds of doctors to take advantage of this possibility of progressive retirement, according to the DD Butcher. But a few dozen could “initially” choose this option, she specifies.
Good news, according to the FMOQ, considering the current shortage of doctors. The union estimates that there is a shortage of 1,500 in the province. For the first time last year, the number of general practitioners working in the public network decreased. The arrival of new doctors has not compensated for retirements, the exodus to the private sector and moves outside the province.
“When a doctor seems to want to participate or maintain part of his practice, we prefer that he stops completely,” says the DD Butcher. Sometimes, there are doctors who are 65, 66, 67 years old, very alert and who want to continue, but not five days a week and that is understandable. »