Discouraging employers from using sick notes is among several new measures that are part of new provincial changes aimed at easing the administrative burden on doctors.
On Wednesday, the Ontario government announced new actions that it plans to take, saying they will help family doctors and other primary care providers spend more time with their patients and less on paperwork.
Among those changes are prohibiting employers from requiring sick notes from health practitioners in order for employees to take an entitled leave. The province said it will encourage employers to use other tools instead of sick notes, such as attestations, to maintain employee accountability.
Another action the province intends to take to reduce doctor administrative tasks is to utilize artificial intelligence to summarize or transcribe conversations with patients automatically. The AI scribes program will be expanded to more than 150 primary care providers in the province and will only be used during a visit if the patient gives consent.
Other new measures the government has announced include introducing a centralized waitlist program, expanding eServices, eliminating fax machines, and improving online platforms.
According to the Ontario Medical Association, family doctors spend 19 hours per week on administrative tasks, including four hours writing notes or completing forms for patients.
