Introducing a new series: What if . . . ?
Imagine a Canada without family physicians. Here’s how it might look: Doctors are essentially all specialists, and there are plenty of them. A patient’s first point of contact with non-emergency care is a salaried health professional such as a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, naturopath or psychologist. Prevention and health promotion are tackled by these caregivers, working in teams that include dietitians and other counsellors. The primary care question is one in a series of “What If” articles, designed to be provocative, to shake things up, to get people talking.
