What Doctors (and Nurses) can Expect From a Post-COVID Work Environment

Whether you’re already a physician in Canada or you’re looking to become one, you might be wondering what you can expect from a post-pandemic working environment. Will virtual services still be in demand? Will you still need to work remotely, or from multiple locations? What changes will you need to make when you practice? 

While it’s impossible to predict what comes next, there are a few things to think about when it comes to working as a doctor in a post-pandemic world – here are a few of them:

1) You’ll Probably Keep Seeing Virtual Patients

    Research on virtual care conducted by the Canadian Medical Association shows that even prior to the pandemic, Canadians wanted telehealth services in greater amounts than were offered to them – in 2018, around 70% of Canadians said they would try a virtual appointment, and recent studies show around 40% of them would like to have video visits with their health care provider. With telehealth services offering flexibility and ease for both patients and doctors, it’s likely that the virtual visit is here to stay. And you’re not limited to family practice either – doctors from all specializations are taking advantage of virtual care, and the option of having a virtual visit can sometimes mean more flexible hours for both you and for your patients.

2) You Could See a Wider Network of Patients

Although currently physicians in Canada are only able to practice in the province where they are licensed, the pandemic has still brought many opportunities for doctors to expand their reach. Whether it’s offering telehealth services to patients who live outside their normal city limits, working for additional hospitals or clinics during the pandemic to help out, or taking on a new job or locum role in another city, country, or province, there’s never been a better time to change up where you work. The pandemic has exposed patient care needs all across the country, with some areas so desperate for doctors that some provinces issued fast-tracked emergency licenses so physicians could work out of province. Although these measures were temporary, changes like these could potentially mean long term change in the way doctors in Canada can practice. 

3) You’ll See Changes in How You Communicate

Many patients during the pandemic have become used to using communication tools such as text messages or email to book appointments and follow up with their doctors. Since the CMA research indicated that over 40% Canadians wanted access to these services before the pandemic happened, it’s no surprise that many physicians see them continuing after it finishes. According to the American Medical Association, this approach can help patients to keep on top of their appointments, take their medications on time, and stay on top of chronic conditions. 

And it doesn’t necessarily mean more work for you – although bringing home additional administrative work (such as responding to emails or messages from patients) might be the last thing you’re looking for in a pandemic, some of the most requested services by patients require little work from you. For example, 71% of Canadians would like to be able to book their appointments through email or text message, but only 9% of family doctors have this option. Adding a virtual booking or follow up system, even after the pandemic, is one way your workplace might be able to better meet patient needs, as well as save you and your office staff some time. 

4) You Might See Changes to Your Hours

Given the ease of providing virtual care, many physicians chose to extend or change their hours during the pandemic, and some doctors say this is a very good thing. In a profile by the Toronto Star, many doctors describe patients as being reluctant to go to emergency rooms when COVID cases were high. But since some patients work too late to go to the doctor, often this is their only option. With more family physicians and clinics working longer hours because of the pandemic – whether by scheduling shifts or through virtual care – patients might expect these hours to continue after it, which means your ‘new normal’ might need to include a longer or more flexible workday. 

Although no one can predict what will happen in the years to come, being adaptable to patient needs and flexible to new regulatory guidance and care initiatives can help doctors in Canada to make the most of their time in the clinic – and to enjoy it