Here for you: Protecting the mental and physical well-being of physicians 

Physicians’ lives are filled with competing priorities, and your career can present many challenges unique to the profession. From experiencing burnout and stress, to dealing with physical, verbal, or emotional abuse on the job, many factors can contribute to poor mental and physical health.

As your professional association, Doctors of BC works on your behalf to not only provide impactful well-being and safety programs and services tailored to your needs, but also in our discussions with health care partners and leaders about systemic change. This ensures the physician voice is front and centre when pressing matters are on the table, particularly when it comes to your physical and mental health.

Physician Health and Safety: Creating safer workplaces

Ensuring the physical and psychological safety of doctors in their workplaces is a major priority for Doctors of BC’s advocacy work – a priority informed and shaped by what you share with us. Our 2023 Health Authority Engagement Survey showed that one in two physicians continues to report being involved in, or being impacted by, a physical and psychological safety incident. Creating safe environments for physicians can result in many positive impacts not only for physicians in their places of work, but also for patient care and the overall stability of the health care system. 

A major element of this work is the Physician Health And Safety Memorandum of Agreement, renewed in the 2022 Physician Master Agreement (PMA). While the area of workplace safety is undoubtedly complex, with many different factors at play, there has been major progress towards systemic change for the better.

• Working groups in each Health Authority were established along with Doctors of BC physician representatives to create safe environments and improved processes for physicians. Under this work, several regional and provincial projects have been completed, with many more underway, to incorporate the physician voice into creating broad change, such as the development of the mPOSH program which provides occupational health services for Vancouver Coastal physicians specifically on communicable disease management. Learn more about projects throughout the province on the Memorandum of Agreement webpage.
   
• Doctors of BC and health care partner organizations have regular knowledge sharing gatherings, including the annual Physician Health and Safety Summit. This summit builds community and provides physician groups and partners with knowledge-sharing opportunities. Insights from the conference also inform our advocacy work for BC’s doctors. 
• A new province-wide Community Physician Health And Safety Program, supported by SWITCH BC, offers resources for community physicians to improve workplace health and safety, and enhance violence and injury prevention. As part of this program, community physicians and their teams can learn more about health and safety obligations at work in the community physician health and safety guide and receive at-the-elbow support from SWITCH BC’s safety advisors in a free clinic health and safety assessment.

Physician Health Program: Support is available

At Doctors of BC, we prioritize the well-being of our member physicians, and our team has a unique understanding of the specific challenges you may face. The Physician Health Program (PHP) provides a trusted service to BC physicians, medical learners, and their family members.

PHP's caring and diverse clinical team offer services including a 24-hour confidential helpline (1800-663-6729), short term counseling, referrals to specialized coaches and therapists, and support if you’re concerned about a physician colleague, among many other supports. 

PHP also provides a variety of offerings to support you in your professional and personal life, including support during life changes such as retirement or returning to work after a period of leave, connecting physicians with their own family doctor, and occupational health consultations to ensure your working environment is a healthy one.

PHP also facilitates a range of support and learning groups, including a group for doctors with ADHD and specialized peer support for physicians who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC). Learn more and access support on the PHP website. 

Physician Safety and Well-being: A Core Strategic Priority 

Promoting physician health and safety is one of four key priorities in Doctors of BC’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan, a plan created through research, discussion with health care partners, and, most importantly, informed by feedback from physicians throughout the province.

We know your well-being is crucial, both as a physician and as an individual. We strive to promote a working environment where doctors feel physically and psychologically safe to provide care to patients and have access to supports when they are needed. These services are here for you, with team members ready to support you all the way.