Average Distance to the Nearest Physician Specialist, 1998 (kilometres)

The patterns shown on the map clearly reflect both the general distribution of population and population density in Canada and the distribution of physician specialists. In fact, the spatial patterns that are expressed in this map actually reflect "distance to the nearest urban centre" as the majority of physician specialists live in metropolitan areas of the country.

Figures 1a and 1b highlight the very significant differences in distances to the nearest physician specialist when general rural and urban groupings of the census divisions (CDs) are employed. Residents of predominantly urban and intermediate areas of Canada have on average less than 10 kilometres to travel to the nearest family physician. In predominantly rural areas the average distance exceeds 60 kilometres and in northern areas of the country the average exceeds 300 kilometres.

[D]
Click for larger version, 3 KB
Figure 1a. Average Distance to the Nearest Physician Specialist, 1998 (based on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) urban-rural Classifications)

[D]
Click for larger version, 3 KB
Figure 1b. Average Distance to the Nearest Physician Specialist, 1998 (based on Metro Adjacency Categories)

• Average Distance to the Nearest Family Physician, 1998 (kilometres) Map | Read about this map

• Health
• Rural Health
• Distance to Physicians
• References and Links