Study finds female docs spend more time with patients

Female family physicians in Ontario spend 15 to 20 per cent more time with patients than their male colleagues for the same pay.

In a news release Tuesday, the Ontario Medical Association said the study — which surveyed over 1,000 family physicians in active practice across the province — found female docs spend nearly four minutes longer per appointment across almost all commonly billed services.

The study author says the finding underscores the need to change the payment system to prioritize time instead of volume.

Written by Loreena Dickson