Almost one-quarter of rural residents reported going to an emergency room, compared to eight per cent of urban residents. (Kelley McCall/Associated Press)

Roughly 4.1 million Canadians aged 12 or older are without a family doctor, either because they can’t find one or haven’t looked, says Statistics Canada.

Of those, 64 per cent used walk-in or appointment clinics, 12 per cent went to a hospital emergency room, while about 10 per cent went to a community health centre when they needed medical care.

Whether you are a patient looking for a doctor, or someone who works in a hospital or medical office, we'd like to hear your stories.

Patients

• What lengths have you gone to in order to find a doctor? Do you have any tips for people looking for one?
• How has the doctor shortage affected your health?
• Are you a newcomer to Canada? Tell us about your experiences finding a doctor.

Medical professionals

• Do you work in a medical office? What works and what doesn't?
• What can patients do to help things run more efficiently?
• What rules must change to ensure all Canadians have easier access to doctors?