In Northern Ontario, accessing specialist care often means patients traveling hundreds of kilometers—sometimes in dangerous winter conditions – and with a financial cost. Dr. Lorraine Sharp, a dedicated family physician in Sault Ste. Marie, sees the challenge this presents to patients every day. To address the need for access in her community, she now focuses her work in geriatric rehabilitation, and palliative and long-term care.
Although Dr. Sharp has a focused practice, she believes that comprehensive family medicine is the pillar of patient-centered care. Family physicians know their patients deeply—not just their medical histories, but the details of their daily lives. Just like Dr. Sharp, all family physicians have a breadth of experience caring for patients, which uniquely positions them to advocate for a health-care system that meets their patients’ needs.
In addition, Dr. Sharp recognizes that everyone needs a family physician, regardless of the complexity of the care they require, or the specialists they see. No matter the situation, a family doctor should be a part of a patients’ care team.
Her hope for the future? That governments and healthcare systems continue to invest in and support family medicine—ensuring that every patient, no matter where they live, has access to a trusted family doctor.
