Supply, Distribution and Migration of Physicians in Canada, 2023 — Methodology Notes

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Department of National Defence

Table of Contents

• Table of contents 3
• Introduction 5
• More information 5
• 1 Data sources and collection 6
• 1.1 Scott’s Directories 6
• 1.2 Non-certified specialist data 6
• 1.3 Population data 6
• 1.4 Other data sources 7
• 2 Data quality 7
• 2.1 Data supply interruptions 7
• 2.2 Physician counts in the territories 9
• 3 Computations 14
• 3.1 Head count inclusions and exclusions 14
• 3.2 Data comparison 17
• 3.3 Physician-to-population ratios 20
• 3.4 Age and average age 20
• 3.5 Assigning subspecialties to physicians 20
• 3.6 Certified and non-certified specialists 21
• 3.7 Physicians by health region 23
• 3.8 Assigning urban and rural status 23
• 4 Data limitations 24
• 4.1 Valid mailing address 24
• 4.2 Time delay in reporting changes 24
• 4.3 Physicians moving abroad 24
• 4.4 Resident data 25
• 4.5 Comparisons between jurisdictions 25
• 4.6 Specialty designations 25
• 5 Privacy and confidentiality 26
• 5.1 CIHI “no publication” methodology 26
• 5.2 CIHI “no publication” status 27
• Appendices 29
• Appendix A: Data definitions 29
• Appendix B: Comparing inclusion criteria 34
• Appendix C: Specialty groupings: SMDB reports/tables 35
• Appendix D: Text alternative for figures 38
• References 40