dbd33

I don't follow this at all. My children took the ib program and so their progress was directly comparable to that of the children of colleagues in the UK, the US and India (I suppose other countries too, had I known people living in other countries who were in a comparable situation at the time).

bats

Does your sister know the practice in which you have been offered a job? Woukd she want to be a patient there?

Gifted

Bats no my sister doesn't know about the practice but is visiting next week to have a look

Crouchinghaggis

My research has mostly been limited to Alberta. Because I qualified before the MRCGP was essential, I have had to sit further exams to be accepted by the college of physicians and essentially Alberta was the place that required the least in extra exams.
I visited a variety of practices all across Alberta in the summer - urban, rural and semi-rural. Frankly I would have been happy working in any of them and it felt great to be able to choose the job and area that suited me and my family the best.
As regards income there is no doubt that GPs, in Alberta at any rate, are earning several times more than a British GP earns - they looked at me with pity when I told them about my salary in the UK.
The income reflects the amount of work done - as it is fee for service - so essentially you choose how much you want to earn but I found that urban GPs doing no out of hours work and a similar work load to British GPs were very well rewarded.
If you chose to do some extra 'emergency room' work then that is paid extremely well.
If you want I can let you know the kind of figures involved.

The work permit process is very painfully slow though and the most soul-destroying part of the move. I visited Alberta in August and immediately accepted a position. At that point Alberta Health Services drew up a formal offer to open a practice. When I had signed that they applied for a labour market opinion and formal contracts. This took several months and I finally had all the documents I needed at the start of November.
I applied for my Temporary work permit on the second of November and was asked to go for a medical almost straight away.
I had the medical done and now I'm just sitting waiting to hear whether my application has been succesful.
I hope that all helps. I could go on about it all Ad-nauseam because it does take over your entire life but having been to Canada now I can confidently say that it will be worth it.
Crouchinghaggis

Amtobi

Just a quick question, did you apply driectly to the London office or online? I am also waiting for a TWP with medical

Crouchinghaggis

I applied on-line.
They were so quick asking me to go for a medical I got my hopes up for a quick decision - very silly of me!

Amtobi

Very silly lol, this process has been a lesson in patience! everything has taken longer than expected. Hopefully it means they're being thourough a girl can hope.

Have you seen any changes on your application when you log on to GCKey? I did my medical before application, not sure if it will speed up the process.

Tirytory

Ours with a medical took about 10 weeks in total. I think they did get a please hurry along by HFO as we needed to get work permit to the Royal college by certain date!

Crouchinghaggis

I haven't seen any changes when I log on with my GCkey.
I was starting to get worried about that because it still states that my action was required but I have been reassured by other forum members that this is quite normal.

10 weeks in total for a decision sounds okay though. I could live with that.

Gifted

thank you for sharing your experience.the reason I raised concern about income was because I have been told that an FP gets $35/-per pt,and when I calculated it to 6 sessions (this is what I would want to do) deducting the overheads etc,it was coming to less than what I am earning at the moment. Have you actually seen account figures of your colleagues in Alberta or have you done any rough calculations...
I really appreciate your input.

Gifted

The income they show is pre tax and pre overheads.theoverheads are about 30% and taxes between20-40%. So basically the take home pay is 40% of what they tell us.

snoopdawg

I don't know Ontario billings but I'm guessing it's similar to BC. Your basic "visit" is just that- basic- almost certainly you can often bill differently or extra
eg pap and sore throat= visit and 1/2 pap fee or other way round. We also have counselling fees, fees for physicals, cryo, minor surgery etc
A huge amount of income comes from chronic disease management, for us this makes a huge difference.
Also your thinking re "wage" is too simplistic. Most FPs incorporate,money goes into that, overheads are put against tax. ( FYI our overheads vary but are in the 20% range) You either pay yourself a wage or dividends, that's taxed at the going personal rate, what's left in the DrCo gets taxed at business rates- very low- 11 or 13 % ish . All business expenses are put against tax.
I was PT in UK- salaried- I work 4 days here- I earn about 10x my UK income but work a lot more.
OH worked at a very high earning practice in UK- 4 days a week but with regular OOH- he also works 4 days here- no OOH-I would say he earns about 50 % more here but works harder overall- a lot more work at home.
Only negative is the lack of NHS superannuation
We were taxed a very high tax rate in the UK so overall, much , much better.

Crouchinghaggis

Snoopdawg sums it up very well. You bill for all the various interventions that you might perform with patients.
Whilst I have been speaking to various practices they have been very quick to show me their accounts and explain the ways that they maximise income.
I would imagine the practice you are considering joining would be happy to do the same.
Have you had much opportunity to speak to them about what to expect re workload and 'the bottom line'?

I don't think there is much doubt that you are likely to earn more in Canada. I think you just need to be sure that you are moving to the right place and will be working with people that you feel comfortable with.

Gifted

thank you snoopdawg and crouching haggis I am expected to pay 30% over head which includes a medical assistant but can cut down to 20%if I don't need one. I am expected to see 4 pts /hour 8 hours a day 3days a week.snoopdawg you mentioned that you are working more in canada or I have understood wrong...I got that your OH is working more at home..

snoopdawg

You need an MOA- everyone needs an MOA!! They do everything for you- answer phones, make appointments, file paper, put patients in rooms, dip urine, etc, etc. I could not survive without one ! It would be a false economy-your earnings will be much higher with one- I just don't see how anyone could work without one.
Numbers-wise, - initially 4 an hour may be ok whilst you get used to billing, different drugs, dosages, how to do everything you thought you knew how to do!!! Order CXRs, US etc!!
But after that, you'll be able to put in some fit ins, quick meds refills etc. You'll need them as some appointments take up more time- cutting down your 4 an hour, eg physicals.
I personally think for 8 hours a day 30-35 are good numbers for you and your patients.
We both work harder, hard to put a finger on why!
BTW who is "expecting" you to work the stated hours/numbers? Surely you are your own boss!