These findings include: •
Increased access to health information has changed the way patients and physicians interact. Quality care includes patient empowerment through health education and increased health literacy.
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The differences between the systems within which physicians, other health care providers, and administrators operate strains professional relationships by creating barriers to communication and discouraging collaboration.
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Physicians feel responsibility for the economic sustainability of the health care system is being assigned largely to them. However, they have insufficient support to balance this with quality patient care. These conflicting priorities and expectations lead to discord between physicians, health authorities, and government.
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Physicians report positive relationships overall with patients and other health care providers. In comparison, they rate relationships with health authorities and government as “fair” or “needs improvement.”
Integral to physicians’ pride in their professionalism is the understanding that they are ultimately responsible for expressing it in their own individual relationships. The BCMA has identified a number of commitments made to support professional relationships. These are made with the understanding that physicians are not alone in providing health care but work closely with others. To that end, recommendations are identified that reflect that spirit of partnership between physicians and others. These recommendations are intended to encourage a sense of cooperation and improve these relationships. British Columbia is well served by doctors whose jurisdictions encompass urban and rural, clinician and administrative, family physician and specialist, focused practice and full-scope, academic and scientist, learner and teacher. In choosing to uphold the virtues of professionalism and by holding one another accountable, physicians can enhance their professional satisfaction, the patient experience, and provide the highest standard of health care.
British Columbia is well served by doctors whose jurisdictions encompass urban and rural, clinical and administrative, family physician and specialist, focused practice and full-scope, academic and scientist, learner and teacher.
Working Together: An Exploration of Professional Relationships in Medicine
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