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While I believe that @LumecaHealth is providing valuable access to medical care for those without a family physician, I do not believe it should be considered a replacement for an ongoing relationship with a family doctor. It is also not equivalent. /1
Your family physician can also offer you FREE telephone and video visits. This is not exclusive to @LumecaHealth. Family doctors also provide #COVID19 screenings, prescription refills, specialist referrals, and general health consultations. /2
In fact, care provided by Saskatchewan’s incredible family physicians had ALWAYS been free. /3
The #WeGetYouBetter hashtag being used is insulting to me and also misleading. Your family doctor spends years getting to know you, your health, your family. Family docs care for generations of the same families. I’d argue WE get you better. /4
Yes, access to a doctor in any form is better than no access. It’s also better than having people rely solely on acute care clinics or the emergency rooms, especially during a pandemic. I appreciate that @LumecaHealth is helping to fill that huge gap in SK health care. /5
As I have said many times - the way we actually improve outcomes, prevent hospitalizations, prevent readmissions, and EXTEND LIVES of people is through providing ongoing relationships with a family doctor (ideally in a patient medical home model). /6
This is a time where all of Saskatchewan’s physicians need to come together to provide the best possible care to everyone. Promoting yourself as being “better than” in this moment is irresponsible and alienates your colleagues. /7
I have enormous respect for all of my physician colleagues. All of the above tweets represent my own thoughts and opinions and should not be generalized to any of the organizations with which I am affiliated. /8
I am passionate about family medicine. I think the answer lies in expanding capacity of family medicine in this province and in supporting the transition to PMH models wherever possible. /9
