B.C. doctors say digital red tape is slowing care and lengthening waits

Family doctors in B.C. say outdated systems and paperwork are slowing patient care; a national report estimates physicians in the province spend nearly 10 hours a week on administrative work.

Family doctors in B.C. are urging the province to reduce digital red tape, saying outdated systems and unnecessary paperwork are delaying diagnoses and extending wait times. A national report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and the Canadian Medical Association, released during Red Tape Awareness Week, found physicians in the province spend substantial time on administrative tasks. Doctors cited continued use of fax machines and fragmented electronic medical records as barriers to timely care. The B.C. government says it is addressing some issues, including removing sick note requirements and exploring AI tools and broader EMR integration. What we know: - The report says doctors in B.C. spend nearly 10 hours per week on administrative work and that this amounts to millions of hours annually. - Researchers estimate that eliminating unnecessary paperwork in B.C. could free time equivalent to more than 1,400 full‑time doctors. - Victoria family physician Dr. Jennifer Lush reported spending about 17 hours a week on paperwork and described examples where faxed requisitions are lost or delayed. - The report identified referrals, test requisitions and insurance documentation as among the most time‑consuming tasks for physicians. - B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne said the province has begun removing some paperwork requirements, is piloting AI scribes to reduce documentation time, and is working toward full electronic medical record integration. Summary: Doctors say administrative burdens are reducing time available for patient care and contributing to longer waits, and a new report quantifies the scale of weekly and annual hours spent on paperwork. The report recommends simplifying insurance processes, reallocating some tasks, and using technology such as AI to reduce documentation time. Provincial officials say work is underway on AI tools, sick note changes and EMR integration, and further updates are expected from the government.