<Insert Date>

Dear <Insert Name / Organization>

I am writing to highlight the importance of referring to family physicians accurately and consistently in your communications.

Terms such as ‘primary care provider’, ‘primary care clinician’, and ‘family practitioner’ do not reflect the depth of training, scope of practice, or professional identity of physicians who specialize in family medicine. Family physicians are irreplaceable in delivering comprehensive, whole-person care – and language plays an important role in recognizing this.

Across Canada, ‘family physician’ is the recognized title for specialist physicians trained in family medicine. Family physicians complete nine to eleven years of postsecondary education and clinical training, including two to three years of dedicated residency specializing in family medicine. This extensive training equips them to manage complex patients, work across multiple care settings, and provide continuity that is strongly associated with reduced specialist referrals, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations.

Family physicians are the primary entry point to the health system for most Canadians. More than 70% of people in BC receive their care from a family physician, underscoring the central and trusted role they hold in communities.

Other primary care professionals, including nurse practitioners, are essential and valued members of the team. Their contributions strengthen access for patients and enhance team-based care. However, their training, scope, and role differ from that of family physicians and using catch all terms such as ‘primary care provider’ conveys inaccurate equivalency.

Recognizing these distinctions supports clarity for patients and reinforces the collaborative strengths of a well-functioning primary care team.

To ensure accuracy and uphold the integrity of the profession, I respectfully request that <insert organization> use ‘family physician’ when referring to specialist physicians trained in family medicine.

Thank you for your collaboration and leadership in supporting clear, patient-centred communication. I would be pleased to answer any questions you may have. For more information on this topic, you can visit the BC College of Family Physicians’ website at https://www.bccfp.bc.ca/resources/the-unique-value-of-family-physicians

Sincerely,
<Insert Your Name>