Ontario's doctors are now seeing the vast majority of patients in person rather than virtually.
A new analysis of OHIP data released by the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) shows that 87 per cent of all physician visits in Ontario are happening face-to-face.
This is a substantial increase from 40 per cent at the height of the pandemic.
"Both virtual and in-person care have a role to play in health-care delivery," said OMA President Dr. Andrew Park. "Ontario's doctors are committed to providing the best care possible to our patients, in the most appropriate setting."
According to the OMA, research showed that the best applications for virtual care include mental health consultations, refilling prescriptions, and discussing lab and other test results.
Specialist visits have returned to mostly face-to-face, with 88 per cent of patients returning to doctors' offices.
Family physicians are seeing 85 per cent of patients in person.
Dr. David Barber, the chair of the OMA's Section on General and Family Practice, called family doctors the bedrock of health care delivery for Ontarians.
"While in-person clinic visits comprise the majority of patient care the past two years, family physicians are committed to advocating for virtual care for geographically isolated or vulnerable populations," he said.
Lack of access to a family physician remains one of the OMA's most urgent issues.
A study conducted by INSPIRE-PHC showed that as of March 2022, 2.2 million Ontarians were without a regular family doctor.
"We need to reduce the crushing administrative burden that is taking time away from patient care," said Dr. Park about the availability of Ontario doctors.
"The government should provide funding for all family doctors to access inter-professional care teams and move faster to assess internationally trained physicians who are in Ontario now, looking for work," he added.
Burnout and the unnecessary burden of administration on doctors and lack of access to home and community-based care remain the OMA's other primary concerns in ensuring all Ontarians have adequate health care.
