Canadian Doctors Are Drowning in Paperwork — And Patients Are Paying the Price
A newly released national report confirms what patients and physicians have felt for years: Canada’s doctors are spending an extraordinary amount of time on paperwork instead of patient care.
The report, “Losing Doctors to Desk Work,” published this month by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) in collaboration with the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), estimates that physicians across Canada lose approximately 20 million hours every year to unnecessary administrative tasks. That burden is equivalent to nearly 9,000 full-time physicians removed from the health-care system — not due to shortages in training or recruitment, but due to red tape.
At a time when Canadians are struggling to find family doctors and experiencing longer wait times, this administrative overload is worsening access to care.
Family Doctors Are Carrying the Heaviest Load
The report highlights that family physicians are disproportionately affected, raising alarm during an ongoing primary-care crisis. For individual doctors, paperwork consumes nearly 200 hours per year — more than a full month of work that could otherwise be spent seeing patients.
Researchers warn that every hour spent on administrative work directly translates into:
- Longer wait times
- Fewer available appointments
- Reduced continuity of care
Physicians identified multiple sources of unnecessary administrative work, including:
- Fragmented health-system processes
- Insurance and government forms
- Pharmacy-related documentation
- Inefficient electronic medical record (EMR) systems
Burnout, Reduced Hours, and Early Retirement
The human cost is significant. According to the report:
- 93% of physicians say paperwork disrupts work-life balance
- 95% report reduced professional fulfillment
- Nearly 90% link administrative burden to burnout
More than half of physicians surveyed said they plan to reduce their working hours, and one in four is considering early retirement — a troubling statistic as communities already struggle to recruit and retain primary-care providers.
Cutting Red Tape Could Immediately Improve Patient Access
The encouraging takeaway is that reducing unnecessary administrative work could have immediate benefits:
- Nearly 80% of physicians would use reclaimed time to improve work-life balance
- 44% would spend more time with existing patients
- 43% would accept new patients
Physicians strongly support solutions such as:
- Eliminating low-value administrative tasks
- Improving system integration and interoperable patient records
- Delegating administrative duties to other trained health professionals
- Providing protected, paid administrative time
- Expanding the responsible use of artificial intelligence
While over a quarter of physicians already use AI scribe tools, 42% are interested in adopting them to reduce documentation time and focus on patient care.
OFHC’s Commitment to Expanding Access to Family Doctors in Orléans
At Orleans Family Health Clinic (OFHC), we see firsthand how administrative burden limits patient access. That is why we work closely with community partners to expand primary-care capacity — not just by advocating for system change, but by bringing more family doctors into the Orléans community.
Through strong collaboration with Centrum Pharmacy, physician recruitment and sponsorship efforts have resulted in thirteen family physicians being recruited to the Orléans area over the past 15 years. Thousands of residents who previously did not have a family doctor now do — directly because of these efforts.
How to Find a Family Doctor in Orléans
Option 1: Let Centrum Pharmacy Assist You In Finding a Family Doctor
Centrum Pharmacy actively recruits and sponsors family physicians to practice in Orléans. Through these efforts, many patients have been successfully rostered with family doctors.
Option 2: Search Independently
Contact physician offices directly to ask if they are accepting new patients
Use the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario “Find a Doctor” tool
Option 3: Register with Health Care Connect
Register with Ontario’s Health Care Connect program to be matched with a physician or nurse practitioner
Supporting Patients While They Wait for a Doctor
While patients search for permanent primary care, community-based solutions matter.
Through collaboration with Centrum Pharmacy, patients can access:
- Prescription extensions at no extra cost
- Pharmacist consultations and prescribing for minor ailments
- Walk-in clinic services on Fridays and Saturdays
- Vaccinations, chronic disease management, and medication reviews
Reducing red tape will take system-wide reform — but expanding access to care requires local action today. OFHC remains committed to strengthening primary care in Orléans by supporting physicians, collaborating with trusted partners, and ensuring patients are not left behind.
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Disclaimer: The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information does not substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment. Please do not initiate, modify, or discontinue any treatment, medication, or supplement solely based on this information. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider first. Full Disclaimer.
