To all Ontario Family Physicians:                                  February 21, 2005.

The Public Campaign Continues

Patient Pamphlets

As you know, the Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario recently launched its Public Campaign radio advertisements to draw attention to the serious and shockingly worsening family doctor shortage.   Our radio ads are available on our website at www.cofp.com in case you have not yet heard them.   More importantly, we have called upon the people of Ontario to speak out and write to their MPPs to help us restore our profession and healthcare system.   The response from both doctors and the public has been tremendous.   But, it cannot stop here.

We now need to engage our patients.   They have always depended upon us when they needed us most.   Now, we need them.

The COFP has printed one million pamphlets for distribution to patients.   These are now being couriered to our members.   The 2-page pamphlet is included in this bulletin for your review.

Please personally hand one to each patient.   Briefly discuss the family doctor crisis in Ontario.   Invite your patient to assist family physicians by suggesting that they to write their MPP to tell them how concerned they are about the present crisis and that they stand with family physicians.   Also suggest that they call the COFP's toll-free number (1-866-495-4346) to reach our 24hr/day call centre or visit our website for information on how to contact their MPP and about the crisis in family medicine.     They can get information on how the crisis impacts directly them, their families, and their communities.

Your help is essential to our approach, strategy, and success.   This is too important to just “leave the pamphlets on the table in your waiting room.” We all need you to engage your patients.

If you do not receive the pamphlets in the next few days, please do the following:

Thank you for supporting all of us !!

Yours sincerely,

Douglas Mark MD, President
and the Board of the Coalition of Family Physicians of Ontario

Join, renew, give feedback, and make political action & legal challenge contributions online at www.cofp.com