Indicator Metadata
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Name | Physicians per 100,000 Population, by Specialty |
Short/Other Names |
Not applicable |
Description | This indicator measures the number of physicians per 100,000 population by specialty. |
Interpretation | Higher ratios are desirable. |
HSP Framework Dimension |
Health System Inputs and Characteristics: Health system resources |
Areas of Need |
Not applicable |
Geographic Coverage |
All provinces/territories |
Reporting Level/Disaggregation |
National, Province/Territory, Region |
Indicator Results |
https://secure.cihi.ca/estore/productSeries.htm?locale=en&pc=PCC34 |
Name | Physicians per 100,000 Population, by Specialty |
Short/Other Names |
Not applicable |
Description | This indicator measures the number of physicians per 100,000 population by specialty. |
Calculation: Description | Number of active physicians divided by population estimates |
Calculation: Geographic Assignment |
Place of residence or service |
Calculation: Type of Measurement |
Rate - Per 100,000 population |
Calculation: Adjustment Applied |
None |
Calculation: Method of Adjustment |
Direct Standardization |
Denominator |
Description: |
Numerator |
Description: 2. Specialist physicians, including certificants of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and/or the Collège des médecins du Québec. All other physicians are counted under family medicine, including certificants of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, unless noted otherwise. 2. Non-registered physicians who requested that their information not be published as of December 31 of the reference year |
Rationale |
Physicians play an important role in the health care system. Physicians directly influence how most health care resources are utilized. Information on physician supply and distribution will help support health decision-makers and planners to prepare for future needs. |
Interpretation |
Higher ratios are desirable. |
HSP Framework Dimension |
Health System Inputs and Characteristics: Health system resources |
Areas of Need |
Not applicable |
Targets/Benchmarks |
Not applicable |
References |
Statistics Canada. Table 17-10-0134-01: Estimates of population (2016 Census and administrative data), by age group and sex for July 1st, Canada, provinces, territories, health regions (2018 boundaries) and peer groups. http://www.statcan.gc.ca. Accessed September 19, 2019. Statistics Canada. Health regions correspondence files. 2018. Statistics Canada. Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF). 2018. 2016 to 2018: Statistics Canada. Quarterly Demographic Estimates. 2019;21(3). |
Data Sources |
Demography division, Statistics Canada, SMDB |
Available Data Years |
Type of Year: |
Geographic Coverage |
All provinces/territories |
Reporting Level/Disaggregation |
National, Province/Territory, Region |
Update Frequency |
Every year |
Indicator Results |
Web Tool: |
Updates |
Not applicable |
Caveats and Limitations |
The accuracy of the number of active physicians depends greatly on the validity of physicians' mailing addresses. Under-coverage issues may occur when physicians work in locum positions, since they may change locations frequently. Scott's Directories cannot add locum physicians to its "active" physicians group if there is insufficient information on them. Therefore, these physicians will be absent from the Scott's Medical Database (SMDB) counts. When sufficient address information is available, locum physicians are assigned to just one province or territory within the SMDB, even if they do locum work in multiple jurisdictions. |
Trending Issues |
Prior to the 2017 data year, Scott’s Directories sent a biannual questionnaire to all active physicians (individuals with a Doctor of Medicine [MD] degree who have a valid mailing address) in its database in order to confirm, update and add to existing physician information. Scott’s Directories discontinued the questionnaire during data collection for the 2017 data year, and information that was previously acquired through the physician questionnaire is no longer available.
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Comments |
Not applicable |