Steven Izen

Spouse to a Family Physician, Dad to 2 amazing children, Founder & CEO. Helping organizations, companies & individuals to deploy technology to solve problems.

[Steven Izen @steve_izen]

@joe_warmington I love that in this political environment, our Canadian government takes a positive stand on equity & diversity. From the comments, it’s sad and disappointing how many people are so very insecure and hateful.

[Steven Izen @steve_izen]

@TuraEmanuela @Josie_Osborne @LazenbyAlec Brilliantly said.

The lack of GPs & Family Drs is a symptom of poor renumeration, that makes opening and maintaining a clinic financially unviable & unattractive.

7% increase VS. 43% inflation - means docs have taken a pay cut every year for 20+ years.

It a financial issue

[Mark Roseman @markroseman]

The real tragedy with BC's health system?

Deliberate lack of transparency means almost nobody knows how broadly dysfunctional it is.

And how little we know about the low productivity and ineffectiveness of the massive resources devoted to it.

Things could be so much better.

[Steven Izen @steve_izen]

@TuraEmanuela @SMYLS_Health @AlikaMD Great points! We can definitely learn somethings form AU. Particular about physician autonomy. It would see the politicians there realize they are not doctors, and respect physicians.

[Steven Izen @steve_izen]

@BCCFP @DrJLush @CityNewsVAN The only reform that is required is to Pay family doctors fairly.

Start by making up for 20 years of below-inflation increases and commit to a plan that keeps their compensation ahead of inflation.

Everything else is negligible.

[Timothy Caulfield @CaulfieldTim]

So maddening. THIS kinda misleading noise does such harm. 👇

VERY obviously vaccines safety already studied! Mountains & decades of data. Thousands of researchers work in space. National surveillance programs. Independent entities assessing safety. Etc.

It is also an example of the motte & bailey fallacy. Conflate the hard to defend (antivaxx noise) with easy to defend ("You are against safe vaccines? You monster!").

Vaccines have saved 150 million + lives in past 50 years, mostly kids: https://t.co/2LSVOX9Yu2 cc @picardonhealth @UbakaOgbogu

[Steven Izen @steve_izen]

@markroseman @DoctorsOfBC For the past 20 years, DoBC has failed to secure fee increases that keep up with inflation—a key part of their mandate.

Now, asking for more money so they can stay ahead of inflation feels incredibly tone-deaf

[Steven Izen @steve_izen]

It's not just Alberta—this issue affects all of Canada. The gap between fees paid to family doctors and inflation has grown so wide that family medicine is becoming financially unsustainable & less appealing as a career.

We must advocate for fair fees to reverse this trend.

[SMYLS Health @SMYLS_Health]

Since 2010, Alberta physicians have seen fee increases of just under 9%, while inflation has soared nearly 39%. This growing gap impacts fairness and sustainability.

At SMYLS, we’re here to help physicians bridge this inequity.

#FairCompensation #SupportPhysicians

[Steven Izen @steve_izen]

The QB Gov plans to use the Notwithstanding Clause to force Drs trained in the pros to stay. Instead of addressing Canada’s Dr shortage at its root—two decades of underpaying physicians.

https://t.co/3HQQWYsP89

[Steven Izen @steve_izen]

Every physician in BC should read and share Mark’s letter.

https://t.co/FMHtbOZMZj

[Mark Roseman @markroseman]

1/15 Dear Doctors IN BC,

However this mess gets sorted out, one result is crystal clear.

Politicians won't save the health system from the growing crisis.

If your patients, your values, and the profession you've dedicated your life to mean anything, it's up to you. 🧵

[Steven Izen @steve_izen]

@CFPC_e Health homes are great idea,…

Let’s first ensure Family Doctors are supported with fair, reasonable compensation that makes family medicine financially sustainable and an attractive career choice.

A thriving healthcare system starts with valuing our Family Physicians.

[Steven Izen @steve_izen]

@markroseman @PfParks The spinning of data is crazy. What’s worse is just making it up.

ps: does anyone know the formula used to calculate the panel payment ?

[Steven Izen @steve_izen]

@dr_oona @dr_voon That doesn’t mean there are not other important issues, many of which are also exasperated by financial constraints.

[Steven Izen @steve_izen]

@dr_oona @dr_voon I believe most medical students already understand that family practice can be financially challenging, if not unsustainable. The root cause of the shortage seems to come down to financial factors. The stats show the shortage grew as fees lagged behind inflation.

[Steven Izen @steve_izen]

@drpaulwinston @jossreimer When an 0100 from 29.1 to 31.62 over 20yrs, while inflation was 43%, the LFP sounds great. A glass a water looks great when you've been in the desert for years. Personally don't believe it was socially responsible to force Family Drs to absorb the cost of inflation for 20 yrs

[Steven Izen @steve_izen]

@drpaulwinston @jossreimer @DrJLush @dr_oona Dealing with poverty and social inequity, along with the myriad of other issues Family Doctors deal with daily is exceptionally hard and tasking....Which is exactly why we should pay Family Doctors properly. At minimum let's catch them up to inflation at keep them ahead of it.

[Steven Izen @steve_izen]

@drpaulwinston @jossreimer @DrJLush @dr_oona I’m all for a healthy debate on the value of Family Doctors, and I’m happy to engage and defend my views. However, focusing on personal details like where they send their kids to school or where they vacation feels unnecessary and judgmental. Let’s stick to the real issues.

[Steven Izen @steve_izen]

@drpaulwinston @jossreimer After sharing your post (and prior posts) with several Family Doctors, the general consensus was: "he is just another specialist who lacks understanding, appreciation, and respect for the important work that Family Doctors do"

[Steven Izen @steve_izen]

@doctor4humans @TuraEmanuela @Dave_Eby Currently we have enough trained family drs in BC. Sadly less then half have longitudinal practices. Because being a Family Dr is not financially viable nor attractive.… and new grads are well aware of this. Making FM the least desirable specialty. LFP does not fix that