Capital Region Physician Access Survey
continued

Please provide a brief explanation of restrictions to your practice."
(from Family Physicians Survey)
112 explained the restrictions to their practice out of an estimated 315 doctors with restrictions, yielding a response rate of 35.6%. Physicians were not asked about restrictions to their practice in previous surveys. The slight reduction in the number of physicians who responded "no" may be affected by the change in the question asked in the 1998 survey.

Restrictions on numbers:
Three percent of physicians restrict simply on numbers of patients, with responses such as "two new patients per day," and "three new patients per week."

Restricted to certain types of care:
Eleven percent restrict their practice to certain types of care, such as breast problems, maternity, care for the elderly, Obstetrics, Psychotherapy, and HIV positive patients.

Do not do certain types of care:
Many physicians indicated that they simply do not have enough space to accept more patients requiring certain types of care, such as chronic pain, fibromyalgia, motor vehicle accident victims, addiction treatment. Others state they will not accept patients desiring narcotic painkillers, or as one physician described, "electronic doctor shoppers." Five percent of respondents are included in this category.

By association:
By far the most common restriction was to the family of the physician’s current practice, with 16% of all physicians restricting to family members. This includes those who restrict to "family of the current practice or a doctor’s referral," and similar responses. Other practices are limited to doctor’s referral, friends of current patients, and those new to Edmonton. One practice is limited to family and Francophone patients, and one is located at CFB Edmonton and is restricted to members of the Armed Forces. 20% of physicians limit their practice in this fashion.

Other:
Other responses include "after initial assessment" and "only in July and August."