$ 6 million a year revisited

AM and SAM Z

I am reposting this blog.  Originally posted almost two years ago, it was unintentionally prophetic.  As we approach a provincial election, it begs to be reviewed again.  The cut to physician's income is now at 15 %.  We are in the middle of a flu epidemic.  Your GP is working way beyond any healthy capacity.  The after-hours clinic manned by the doctors I work with is churning through over 30 patients in an evening with people lined up in the parking lot.   We are not reimbursed for this vitally important work.  Doctors agreed to this arrangement as part of the contract we struck with this government 10 years ago in good faith.

 I will write a future blog that outlines how they have illegally over-ruled that contract leaving all of us in a very unhealthy position.  A government that 'loses' billions of your dollars through mismanagement and recklessness and then cuts your health care ( hospitals, nurses, doctors) and your education system ( God love the teachers who have survived )in order to make up for what they have 'lost', should not be allowed to continue governing.  A government that uses deceitful tactics to make you think these beautiful front line folks deserve to be sacrificed does not deserve to continue governing.

I am not of any particular political persuasion.  I am an advocate and an activist for people who cannot speak for themselves.  I am now advocating for you and your health.  On June 7th, you will have a voice.  Let's use our voices very, very wisely.

April 2016- updated

How disappointing.  Ontario's Minister of Health stood up on a podium with a poster beside him today.  The poster announced that one doctor in the province made over $6 million last year.

Really?   Does the bloated salary of one doctor represent the average salary of your hard working GP?  Come on.  Your government wants you to believe that all doctors can afford more cuts to their income.  Apparently, the 7 % cut we have already taken is not enough.  They must have one heavy-handed agenda if they are resorting to misleading you in this way.

Let's put a dose of the truth out there;  no pun intended.

I BILL OHIP $470,000 /year

I CARE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2000 PATIENTS

I am an average GP

I WORK OVER 40 HOURS A WEEK

(well over 40 hours a week)

I EMPLOY 5 STAFF PEOPLE:
(at a cost of $250,000 annually)
A nurse, an office manager, two receptionists and a nurse practitioner.

We all provide care to these 2000 patients

RENT, UTILITIES, INSURANCE, MAINTENANCE, MEDICAL SUPPLIES....

I PAY A TOTAL OF $360,000 annually in expenses,

 and together, Ontario's Doctors employ a huge network of healthcare and administrative workers supporting a substantive economy 

THAT MEANS THAT AFTER EXPENSES, AN AVERAGE GP LIKE ME MAKES

$110,000 annually

Now pay Licensing Fees, medical education fees

and I am left with a grand total of....

wait for it.....

$100,000 annually

Subtract the taxes and RRSP's, remember docs do not have pensions or extended health care plans, and
I don't even want to know what the final tally is but it is less than your lawyer, your accountant, your dentist and most likely, less than the police officer who cruises your streets.

WHY IS THE AVERAGE FAMILY PHYSICIAN'S SALARY AFTER EXPENSES NOT ON THE MINISTER'S POSTER?

THE GOVERNMENT WOULD LIKE YOU TO THINK YOUR DOCTORS ARE FAT CATS.

More cuts to healthcare will be dangerous, very, very dangerous.

The minute we have to re-consider whether or not we can afford to stay in practice, your healthcare is in jeopardy.

Your healthcare is my responsibility.

I take that, very seriously

 WE ARE ON THE BRINK OF A SERIOUS DISINTEGRATION IN HEALTH CARE IN ONTARIO

And that doctor who bills the government over $6 million a year?  He should be thrown out of the province and his government should curb his income instead of making him their poster boy.

Unfortunately, that disintegration is well underway, as predicted.

Dr.Anne-Marie Zajdlik MD CCFP, MSM, Order of Ontario

Founder ARCH Clinic

Founder Hope Health Centre

Founder Bracelet of Hope

Thanks,
AM