Switching Doctors: Understanding Your Options In New Brunswick, Ca

If you're looking to change doctors in New Brunswick, Canada, you may face some challenges due to a shortage of family doctors and specialists in the province. The first step is to contact Patient Connect NB or NB Health Link, which have replaced each other at different times, to be placed on a waiting list. You can do this by calling Tele-Care 811 or 1-833-354-2300 from Monday to Friday, between 9 am and 4 pm. Alternatively, you can register online. Wait times can vary, and you may be matched with a family doctor or a nurse practitioner.

Register with NB Health Link

NB Health Link is a program for New Brunswick residents without access to a primary healthcare provider. It provides access to healthcare while they wait for a permanent provider (a family physician or nurse practitioner).

To register with NB Health Link, you can call 1-833-354-2300 from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or visit the NB Health Link website at NBHealthLink.ca. After registering, you may be matched with a family doctor or nurse practitioner, who can assess your medical concerns and needs and help find solutions.

Both family doctors and nurse practitioners can prescribe medications, order and interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests, and refer you to specialists when needed. However, they have different roles and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care.

A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice nurse with a master's-level university degree. They have the advanced knowledge and clinical expertise to diagnose, treat, and manage diseases or illnesses. They do not work under the direction of a physician but collaborate with physicians, specialists, and other healthcare team members.

A family physician provides the most comprehensive approach to treating patients and is uniquely qualified to provide patient care and advocate on their behalf. They may not provide all the care their patient needs but are essential for coordinating the treatment plan, understanding that certain treatments are better left to specialists. Family doctors work in collaboration with other healthcare professionals to manage their patients' care effectively.

Due to a shortage of family doctors in New Brunswick, wait times to be matched with a primary care provider can be long. As of December 2020, there were 44,226 people on the Patient Connect NB waitlist. NB Health Link has replaced Patient Connect NB, and the provincial government is working to reduce wait times and improve access to healthcare in the province.

Contact Patient Connect NB

If you are looking to change doctors in New Brunswick, Canada, you can contact Patient Connect NB. Patient Connect NB is a service that helps connect patients with the primary healthcare they need. It is a partnership between the Department of Health, Service New Brunswick, the regional health authorities, and primary healthcare providers.

As of 2022, approximately 74,000 residents of New Brunswick did not have a primary care physician, and this number has remained high for several years. This is due to a shortage of family physicians and specialists, an aging population, and high levels of chronic disease.

To contact Patient Connect NB, you can either call Tele-Care 811 or go online to be placed on a waiting list. Wait times for a family physician can vary, but Patient Connect NB is the first point of contact.

Another option for residents of New Brunswick is to use a virtual healthcare service such as Maple, which allows you to connect with Canadian-licensed doctors, nurse practitioners, and allied healthcare professionals online. This can be especially useful for residents who are on a waiting list for a family doctor, as virtual healthcare can provide quick access to basic healthcare services.

It is important to note that as of 2024, NB Health Link has replaced Patient Connect NB. For more information about NB Health Link and how to register, you can visit the NB Health Link website or call 1-833-354-2300 from Monday to Friday, between 9 am and 4 pm.

Try virtual healthcare services

Virtual healthcare services have been available in New Brunswick since the COVID-19 pandemic, when the state of emergency limited the movement of New Brunswickers within the province. The New Brunswick Virtual Care Action Plan outlines several areas of focus to enhance the virtual care system, including the Connected Health – Virtual Care Program and Community-based care solutions.

There are several virtual healthcare services available in New Brunswick:

• EVisitNB Virtual Care: This service is covered with a valid Medicare Card issued by the Government of New Brunswick. Registration is open from 8 am-8 pm, seven days a week.
• Maple: This service allows you to connect with Canadian-licensed doctors, nurse practitioners, and allied healthcare professionals. They can provide diagnoses, prescriptions, and medical advice for a range of issues, including respiratory infections, minor injuries, chronic illnesses, and mental health conditions. You can connect with a healthcare provider via text message, video, or audio chat.
• Your Doctors Online: This service offers virtual walk-in clinics, where you can access telehealth services such as prescription renewals, medical advice, sick notes, and lab requisitions. You can connect with board-certified doctors via chat, and send pictures and videos.
• Horizon Health Network: Horizon has been offering Virtual Care (also known as Telehealth) since 1998. You can book Virtual Care appointments with your primary care provider at Horizon's community health centres. You can use your own device (phone, tablet, iPad, computer with a camera, etc.) to connect with your provider via video and audio.

Consider a nurse practitioner

If you're looking to change doctors in New Brunswick, Canada, you may want to consider a nurse practitioner (NP) instead. Here are some reasons why:

Access to Healthcare

New Brunswick has a shortage of family doctors, with long wait times to find a new physician. The NB Health Link program can help connect you with a healthcare provider while you wait for a permanent one. Through this program, you may be matched with a family doctor or a nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners are highly trained medical professionals who can provide many primary care services. They can diagnose and treat acute conditions, order diagnostic tests, manage a patient's overall care, and serve as a primary care provider.

Appointment Availability

It is often easier to get an appointment with a nurse practitioner than with a doctor, as they have more flexibility. This means you can get in faster to address urgent issues and begin treatment.

Approach to Treatment

Nurse practitioners have a unique focus on health and well-being, with an emphasis on disease prevention, health education, and counseling. They work collaboratively with their clients and other healthcare providers to provide high-quality, patient-centred care.

Training and Education

Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with advanced training and education. In addition to the degree required to become a registered nurse, they also obtain master's or doctoral degrees. They have completed a minimum of 500 clinical hours, with some programs requiring up to 1,000 hours. Their training blends the practice of medicine with nursing.

Prescriptive Authority

Nurse practitioners in New Brunswick are authorized to prescribe medications, including controlled substances, and may practice autonomously. However, in some states or provinces, they must practice under the supervision of a physician or in collaboration with one. They can also refer patients to specialists when needed.

Specializations

While nurse practitioners can work in various areas, most work in primary care. They can specialize in fields such as pediatrics, women's health, or family practice.

Job Outlook

The demand for nurse practitioners is high due to the ongoing shortage of primary care providers. Job growth for nurse practitioners is projected to be faster than for physicians, with a 45% growth projected over a ten-year period compared to 3% for physicians.

In summary, considering a nurse practitioner as your healthcare provider in New Brunswick can offer you timely access to quality healthcare services. They are highly trained and specialized professionals who can address your primary care needs and collaborate with other healthcare providers when necessary.

Be aware of the doctor shortage

New Brunswick is facing a shortage of doctors, which has resulted in long wait times for patients seeking primary care. This issue is not unique to the province, as other jurisdictions in Canada are also experiencing a lack of physicians. However, it is important for those considering a move to New Brunswick to be aware of the challenges in accessing healthcare services.

The shortage of doctors in New Brunswick has been a persistent problem for several years. As of December 2020, there were 44,226 people on the Patient Connect NB waitlist, hoping to be matched with a primary care provider. While the waitlist has decreased since then, it still fluctuates daily with new names being added each month. The issue is particularly acute in certain areas, such as Fredericton and the Upper River Valley region, which have the highest number of doctor and specialist vacancies in the province.

The causes of the doctor shortage are multifaceted. New Brunswick competes with other provinces to attract and retain physicians, who are in high demand across Canada. The province also faces challenges in recruiting healthcare professionals to rural areas, where there is an increasing need. Additionally, an aging population and high levels of chronic diseases have placed greater demands on the healthcare system.

The New Brunswick government and various organizations are working to address the doctor shortage. The NB Health Link program, for example, provides temporary access to healthcare while patients wait for a permanent provider. The government has also made efforts to modernize physician recruitment and eliminate restrictive practices. Furthermore, the NB Medical Society is advocating for increased funding and more aggressive recruitment strategies to fill vacant specialist positions.

Despite these efforts, the doctor shortage in New Brunswick continues to impact the lives of its residents. Those seeking a family physician may face long wait times, and some have resorted to paying out of pocket to see doctors in other provinces. The lack of access to primary care has also raised concerns about the province's ability to attract newcomers and immigrants, who may choose to settle in other provinces with better healthcare access.

Frequently asked questions