Centrum Pharmacy has been at the forefront of recruiting new physicians for the Orleans area, helping hundreds of patients secure a much-needed family doctor. But why is there such an acute shortage in the first place? The answer lies in decades of systemic changes in medicine that have reshaped—and in many ways eroded—the role of the family physician.
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A Look Back: How Family Medicine Once Was
In the 1970s and 1980s, family doctors were the backbone of the healthcare system. They delivered babies, ran office practices, did hospital rounds, managed nursing home care, and even worked shifts in the emergency department. A “cradle-to-grave” model was the norm.
But as governments introduced cost-cutting policies in the 1990s—such as reducing medical school seats and discouraging family doctors from following patients in hospitals—the profession began to change. Hospitalists emerged, specialists took over inpatient care, and the traditional link between family doctors, hospitals, and specialists weakened.
What Changed Over Time
- Government Policy: Reports like the 1991 Barer-Stoddart report argued there were “too many doctors,” prompting governments to cut training positions.
- Hospital Disengagement: Family doctors were gradually discouraged from following their patients in hospitals, eroding their central role in the continuum of care.
- Rising Workload, Stagnant Pay: Paperwork, administrative burden, and running a private practice became overwhelming, especially with fee-for-service models not keeping up.
- Walk-In Clinics: The rise of episodic care undermined the traditional long-term patient–doctor relationship.
- Generational Shifts: Younger doctors increasingly seek work-life balance and often prefer focused roles such as hospitalists, rather than taking on full-service family practices with overhead.
The Result: A Shortage That Was Predictable
As older physicians retire, few new graduates are stepping into the full-service family practice model. Patients are left “orphaned” without a family doctor. Many physicians describe feeling devalued, frustrated, and disengaged by policy shifts that made the profession less attractive over time.
A Glimmer of Hope
Despite the challenges, family doctors often describe the patient relationships they built over decades as deeply rewarding—words like satisfying, enjoyable, and meaningful stand out. Government initiatives such as increasing medical school seats and expanding family medicine training are steps in the right direction, but it will take years before the impact is felt.
How Centrum Pharmacy Is Helping Orleans Families
At Centrum Pharmacy, we recognized early on that the physician shortage was a barrier to true Complete, Comprehensive, Caring, Connected Care for our patients. That’s why we became one of the only pharmacies in Ontario actively recruiting new family doctors to the community.
Through our collaboration with Orleans Family Health Clinic, we have successfully rostered thousands of patients, giving them access to the kind of consistent, ongoing primary care that prevents people from falling through the cracks.
👉 If you or someone you know still needs a family doctor in Orleans, visit our dedicated physician sign-up page here: Get a Physician – Centrum Pharmacy
Because healthcare works best when patients aren’t left behind.
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.
