Family doctors in B.C. can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, making them considerably higher paid than most workers.
“Things have come to the point now, where family doctors are simply choosing not to work because it’s economically not viable,” he told BIV. That gross revenue includes compensation for work at his practice and in long-term care facilities as well as General Practice Services Committee bonuses, which reward physicians for providing more holistic care, he told BIV.
While getting paid through a pay-for-service model is standard for B.C. family doctors, about 30 per cent are paid through alternate payment plans, which can be service agreements, sessional contracts and salary agreements. “Our system compensates me at least as well as fee-for-service, and probably slightly more,” Spectrum Health Dr. Bradley Little told BIV.
“This is particularly helpful for elderly and complex patients, especially if it is hard for them to get to the office due to mobility issues or other reasons. It also is more enjoyable for me to not feel like I have to rush through visits to get paid more.”