B.C. Doctor Visits: 200 Patients, 100+ Appointments

Uncovered: BCs High-Flying Patients - A Freedom of Information Request Reveals Staggering Doctor Visit Numbers

In British Columbia, a new freedom of information request unveiled extraordinary doctor visit numbers, with two hundred patients exceeding one hundred appointments each in 2024. The standout? One individual attended two hundred nine times, followed by others with one hundred ninety-four, one hundred seventy-eight, and one hundred seventy-seven visits.

Nearly fourteen thousand five hundred patients had over fifty visits that year, amidst a severe doctor shortage affecting seven hundred thousand residents without a family physician. Independent group SecondStreet.org flagged this as a concern, given the long wait lists plaguing the province.

Colin Craig, president of a think-tank, suspects a combination of genuine needs from chronic illnesses and potential system abuse, such as doctors spacing out tests to increase visits. However, experts like emergency doctor Anthony Fong argue that complex cases like heart failure, diabetes, or mental health often require frequent check-ins, sometimes splitting issues across multiple appointments.

Health researchers like Jason Sutherland refer to these patients as high-flyers, including homeless patients needing wound care or substance users on methadone programs visiting clinics two or three times a week. Clinics undergo regular audits to prevent overbilling, so not all cases are suspicious.

SecondStreet.org urges the B.C. government to investigate the data and address any waste, potentially freeing up spots for those in need while respecting legitimate medical demands.

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