Doctor shortages straining health care facilities
Physician recruitment process now underway in Killarney
BY KIM LANGEN
Action to recruit new doctors from overseas has begun.
Council members voted last Wednesday, during their regular meeting, to enlist the services of recruitment company Waterford Global Inc. to help bring in two new doctors to Killarney’s medical clinic and facility.
The Municipality of Killarney-Turtle Mountain has used this company before, back in 2016, with good results. It is a costly venture, but was rewarded with good service for many years, they said.
“We put out a Request for Proposal (RFP) on the Merx website earlier this year,” said Mayor Janice Smith. “Prairie Mountain Health had given us permission to recruit two new physicians using a recruiting company, and we put out tenders.”
Council had received three proposals from recruiting firms at their meeting last week, said the municipality’s CAO Meghan Cuvelier Klassen.
Tenders from the three companies were considered during the meeting: one from New York, one from Ontario, and Waterford Global Inc., which is based in Winnipeg. They ultimately passed a resolution at that same meeting to sign a letter of engagement with Waterford Global Inc., she said.
“In 2016 the two doctors we recruited through this company were Dr. Kate Roche and Dr. Mark Bemment,” said Smith. “Their contract was for four years, and we had them for five years, which was excellent. It was very successful. And there is no increase in the fee rate for Waterford Global. It is the same as in 2016.”
Around half of the fee was reimbursed by Prairie Mountain Health, over four years, back in 2016, she added.
Smith said that the process of securing new doctors through recruitment can take anywhere from six months to a year, but that ‘anything can happen.’
“It could be sooner,” she said.
At the present time Dr. Aisha Jan, Dr. Saheed Balogan, and Dr. Srinivas Sudigala remain as full-time doctors at the Killarney Medical Clinic. Dr. Gerard Desmond is currently practising here as a locum doctor, and will continue to help out until March 3.
After a number of years of service, Dr. Sudigala has announced that he will be closing his Killarney practise, with his last day being June 29.
In a letter, Killarney Physicians outlined the issues affecting the present health service, in order to update the community on the situation.
“We would like to address the current state of the health care system, and acknowledge that the physician shortage and consequent strain on Prairie Mountain Health is greatly affecting our facilities, and ultimately impacts our patient’s ability to be seen for routine care,” they said.
“We are actively working with the region to better meet our communities’ needs, and are hopeful that all options are being thoroughly investigated. We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding while we navigate these unprecedented times, and are hopeful that our facility will soon return to operating at full capacity.”
The mayor added that improving this situation was a high priority.
“I feel very strongly about returning the proper complement of five doctors to our medical facilities,” she said. “We are short, and it is critical. We are serving a large area.”
To help with locums (temporary doctors), the municipality has recently made a move to make Killarney more attractive for out-of-town doctors who need a place to stay.
“We have leased an apartment, nearby to the hospital and within walking distance, for our locums, or other staff, to stay in,” said Smith. “It is reasonably priced, and we have it for one year.”
Smith added that it was highly possible that we will see another doctor returning during this time of shortages to help out.
“Dr. Nermin Gergis may be coming back, for one to two weeks each month as a locum,” she said. “Dr. Gergis would help fill in during the interim, before the new doctors arrive.”
REQUEST FOR PHYSICIANS – Winnipeg recruitment company, Waterford Global Inc., has been selected for the municipality’s bid to source two new doctors for Killarney. In the meantime, the current doctor shortage (a nation-wide concern) is being met with the use of locums, who augment our current full-time physicians.