October 21, 2024 from HRD Canada
Doctors in Ottawa are facing mounting pressure as public servants request medical notes to support their work-from-home accommodations. This influx follows the federal government’s renewed push for civil servants to return to the office, leaving physicians overwhelmed by the increased paperwork.
Growing Demand for Accommodation Notes
Family physicians like Roozbeh Matin and Alex Duong report a sharp increase in requests. Matin, who practices in Barrhaven, receives two to four requests per week, while Duong, based in Vanier, says he has handled dozens of such requests since the spring. “We have been basically inundated with requests from our civil servant patients requesting various sorts of accommodation,” Matin told CBC News.
This growing demand, they argue, diverts their attention from providing essential medical care. “We’re being asked to police these return-to-work policies for the federal government, which is frankly not an effective use of our time,” Duong explained.
Burden on the Healthcare System
The complexity of the required forms, which can span several pages, adds to the workload. Derek McLellan, a physician from Riverside South, revealed that managing accommodation forms takes up a full day each week. He expressed frustration with the process, noting that many patients had previously worked remotely during the pandemic but now face new hurdles under the government’s return-to-office mandate.
“It’s a hugely significant thing because it’s just one more task being added to our plate that is also being done, in a way, for no medical benefit,” McLellan said, calling it a burden on an already strained healthcare system.
A Call for Occupational Health Specialists
The physicians argue that the responsibility for these assessments should not fall on family doctors. Instead, they recommend that the federal government hire occupational health specialists to manage accommodation requests. “If the federal government wants to do occupational assessments, then they should consider hiring their own physicians who are trained in occupational medicine,” Duong suggested.
McLellan added, “I think that would be a far more appropriate use of resources.” This approach, the doctors believe, would free them to focus on treating patients with genuine medical needs.
Union Voices Concern over Policy Impact
Alex Silas, national executive vice-president of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, sees the increased burden on doctors as evidence of the flaws in the return-to-office mandate. “Since the implementation of this mandate, the managers are being forced to ask the employees to go get a medical note for no good reason,” Silas said. He warned that the policy places unnecessary strain on the healthcare system.
The Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) defended its position, citing the Directive on the Duty to Accommodate and reaffirming its commitment to supporting employees. “The adoption of hybrid work has not altered our approach or our commitment to supporting employees,” a TBS spokesperson stated.
=================================================================
Considering an IME or document review to resolve an insurance claim, legal file, or workplace health and safety issue?
Our specialists provide evidence-based opinions, so get in touch with Western Medical today to learn more about our services.