How many patients are in your practice?

One of the challenges of family medicine is determining how big of a panel a family physician should carry. Some physicians I’ve worked with have panel sizes of over 2000 patients, while others only have 250. What gives?

The calculation is complex: patient demographics and complexity, physician availability and remuneration models are just some factors. The Canadian College of Family Physiciansrecently published a briefing note giving an overview of panel sizes.

My career started out by “inheriting” a relatively large practice. Keeping up with the practice was a struggle. It was also a real challenge to make space for other clinical activities.

My advice if you’re just starting out? Start low and go slow. Take the time to learn your patients and learn them well. The queue will always be there. A lower volume of patients that get your full attention is a win for them as it is for you.

You can read the full CFPC briefing note here: CFPC Brief: Family Physician Panel Sizes in Canada