Ontario says it’s launching a program intended to help ease the paperwork burden on doctors.
The province says it’s expanding a service to more than 150 primary care providers that can summarize or transcribe conversations with consenting patients.
The government points to research indicating such a service reduced the time doctors spend on after-hours documentation by up to 50 per cent, helping them see an additional 12 patients a month.
The Ontario Medical Association says family doctors spend about four hours a week writing notes or completing forms for patients.
Ontario will also do away with sick note requirements for short absences.
The province is expected to introduce legislation that if passed will no longer allow employers to require a sick note from a doctor for the provincially protected three days of sick leave workers are entitled to.
With that, workers won’t be entirely off the hook when they’re out sick.
A spokeswoman for the labour minister says employers will retain the right to require another form of evidence from an employee such as an attestation or a receipt for over-the-counter medication.