A new survey from the Canadian Institute for Health Information says that while Canadian family doctors are leading in access to in person medical care, we are behind in providing digital access.

The Survey compares Canadian results with the average of 11 other countries surveyed by the Commonwealth Fund in 2019.

The survey says last year 23 per cent of Canadian family physicians offered patients the option to ask questions via email or a secure website, and only 10 per cent offered an online option for prescription renewals.

The average for countries surveyed by the commonwealth fund were much higher: 65 per cent for electronic questions, and 52 per cent for online prescription renewals.

Canada is making progress, however. 86 per cent of doctors are now using electronic medical records, a 13 per cent jump from 2015, and up significantly from 37 per cent in 2009. Canada still sits below the Commonwealth Fun Average though, which is 93%.

While the country is still playing catch up digitally, we are leading for in person medical access.

65 per cent of physicians were practicing in group settings in 2019. As well, 57 per cent offered weeknight hours, and 50 per cent offered weekend hours as compared to the Commonwealth Fund averages of 44 per cent for weeknight appointments and 36 per cent for weekends.