Physician consultations at home in Quebec: why is this service rare in the public system?
As a family physician and medical director of French origin, I've had the opportunity to practice in two very different healthcare systems. In France, home visits by physicians are common practice, but in Quebec, this service is limited in the public system to very specific situations. In this article, I'd like to explain why this model differs in Quebec, and how our private clinic, Allodocteur.ca, is trying to fill this need by making home visits accessible to everyone, just as they are in France.
Why are home consultations so rare in Quebec's public system?
In Quebec, the public healthcare system is designed to optimize the use of medical resources, which are limited due to a shortage of doctors and other healthcare professionals. Home visits are therefore reserved for the most vulnerable patients, often with severe loss of autonomy, such as :
- Elderly people no longer able to move about because of their state of health.
- Palliative care patients requiring medical follow-up at home.
- Certain specific cases of severely disabled patients.
Another important reason is the remuneration of doctors in the public system. For non-vulnerable patients, a home consultation is remunerated at the same rate as an office consultation. This means that physicians working under the RAMQ system have no financial incentive to offer this service. Considering the extra time required to travel and the logistical organization required, most physicians in the public system choose to concentrate their efforts on office or hospital consultations.
The French model: a striking contrast
In France, GPs routinely offer home visits, even for less complex health problems. This practice is facilitated by :
- A dense network of general practitioners throughout the region.
- Specific, higher remuneration for home consultations.
- A tradition rooted in local medicine.
This accessibility contributes to quicker follow-up and avoids the need for patients to visit overcrowded clinics. This model promotes a more direct, less stressful patient-physician relationship.
Allodocteur.ca: a private service inspired by the French model
At Allodocteur.ca, we've drawn inspiration from this model to offer fast, accessible home consultations. Our home consultations are private, not covered by the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ). This allows us to offer fast, flexible services, without the constraints of the public system.
Our aim is simple: to reduce delays and bring family medicine closer to home, by offering home visits with doctors registered with the Ordre des médecins du Québec. Our patients can benefit from same-day medical consultations, without having to wait several days for an appointment.
This service is for everyone, whether you need occasional care or medical follow-up. It also avoids unnecessary travel for people with young children, busy schedules or special constraints.
Why choose Allodocteur.ca?
-A private, flexible service: Our in-home consultations are not covered by RAMQ, which means we can offer fast, personalized access.
-Competitive rates: Our rates are comparable to those for in-office consultations, making home consultations available to all, without distinction.
-Greater accessibility: Our extended opening hours, including weekends, enable us to meet urgent needs.
-Easy appointment booking: Whether online or by phone, our patients can easily book an in-home consultation.
-A humanized service: Our doctors take the time needed for each consultation, in line with the French model.
Conclusion
Home consultations for non-vulnerable patients are not offered in the Quebec public system due to logistical and financial constraints, notably the absence of adapted remuneration for physicians under the RAMQ. However, at Allodocteur.ca, we offer this service privately and outside the RAMQ, charging rates equivalent to those for in-office consultations, as is the case in France.
For a fast, accessible and humane alternative, book an appointment now on Allodocteur.ca.
Allodocteur.ca: bringing family medicine closer to home, one home at a time.
