Survey of present and future physicians seeks clarity  to improve Canada’s health care system
 
(OTTAWA, May 17, 2010) Canada’s three largest national health care organizations
announced today that the 2010 edition of the National Physician Survey (NPS) will be
launched later this month as questionnaires and electronic invitations are distributed to
physicians across Canada. Surveys of medical residents and students will follow in the
fall. A collaboration of the Canadian Medical Association, the Royal College of
Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and The College of Family Physicians of Canada,
the NPS is the largest survey of current and future physicians undertaken in Canada,
with approximately 90,000 individuals invited to participate this year. The 2010 edition
will build on the success of two previous editions in 2004 and in 2007. 
 
Results from previous surveys have provided valuable data about the current priorities
and interests of Canada’s doctors – issues such as changing scopes of practice, barriers
to care, and use of information technology.  This information has been used extensively
to help plan for the future, inform policy decisions, and advocate for required changes to
our health care system.
 
“There’s no doubt that the findings from the NPS have a significant impact on our ability
to influence health care policy in Canada,” explained Dr. Anne Doig, President of the
Canadian Medical Association. “The answers we receive help to bring clarity to
important decisions that will affect physicians and their patients.” 
 
“The 2010 NPS is updated to include questions about chronic disease management, the
use of electronic health records and other current health care issues,” adds Dr. Cathy
MacLean, President of The College of Family Physicians of Canada.  “The new data will
identify emerging issues to help physicians, governments and stakeholders plan
effectively for the future.”
 
“The survey will also provide critical insights that we can leverage to develop strategies
to address the education and training of physicians to better meet the health needs of
Canadians,” explained Dr. William Fitzgerald, CM, FRCSC, President of the Royal
College. “That is why it is so important for all physicians, residents and medical students
to participate in this survey. We need to hear from them.” 
 
The 2010 National Physician Survey has been made possible through financial and in-
kind contributions from the Canadian Medical Association, The College of Family
Physicians of Canada, The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and
the Canadian Institute for Health Information. The survey results will be available
between the Spring and Fall months of 2011. The findings will contain data breakdowns
of national/provincial results, student/resident results and by specialty results.
 
For more information and for complete findings from the 2004 and 2007 editions of the
NPS, go to nationalphysiciansurvey.ca.
 
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Contacts: 
Bernard Gauthier  Karen Bennett
Delta Media Inc.  Delta Media Inc.
1-888-473-3582 1-888-473-3582
bernard@deltamedia.ca karen@deltamedia.ca 
 
 
Jayne Johnston 
The College of Family Physicians of Canada   
1-800-387-6197 ext. 303/ 905-629-0900 ext. 303
jjohnston@cfpc.ca 
 
 
Sandy Shearman
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
1-800-668-3740 ext. 464 / 613-730-8177 ext. 464/Cell 613-614-3740
sshearman@royalcollege.ca   
 
 
Lucie Boileau
Canadian Medical Association
1-800-663-7336 ext. 1266 / 613-731-8610 ext. 1266 
lucie.boileau@cma.ca