Frustrated with the current state of medical services in Cold Lake, city councillors are ready to do whatever they can to help bring doctors into the city. "Over the years, we have been bombarded with numerous plans and proposals...
Frustrated with the current state of medical services in Cold Lake, city councillors are ready to do whatever they can to help bring doctors into the city.
"Over the years, we have been bombarded with numerous plans and proposals...Frankly, I don't want to hear anymore. No more proposals and meetings and ideas," said Coun. Kelvin Plain. "Two or three months to see a family physician is not cutting it."
Earlier this month, city administration met with local physicians to get a better understanding of the state of medical services within Cold Lake. Currently, there are 12 physicians, one surgeon and two nurse practitioners servicing the city.
Looking at how that number has fluctuated in the past decade, administration found that the only enhancement in the number of medical professionals in the city has been the addition of two nurse practitioners.
In 2006, the City of Cold Lake provided $60,000 to an organization known as CLR3. The purpose of the group was to recruit doctors into the community as there was significant concern regarding access to healthcare. After some success, CLR3 evolved into Hearts for Healthcare.
While the new charitable organization has provided seven physicians with financial assistance to practice in Cold Lake, city CAO Kevin Nagoya explained that those doctors were not enhancing the medical services but merely filling the spots of exiting physicians.
"The stats speak for themselves. The numbers show that there's been a moderate enhancement, but the amount of physicians have remained about the same."
Nagoya added, "Hearts for Healthcare continue to support recruitment, but the physical recruitment is done by AHS (Alberta Health Services) and clinics. So, the question is now, does the City of Cold Lake need to come out with another program themselves?"
Similar to the city's multi-family housing rebate program, Nagoya suggested to councillors that they could offer a simple cash incentive for doctors to come into the community. Feeling it was time for them to step forward, council quickly jumped on board with the idea of taking on the role of recruiting doctors.
"The doctor recruitment issue has not gone away. I wasn't overly comfortable that Hearts for Healthcare, although they do recruitment, it's not getting the attention it deserves," said Coun. Bob Buckle. "If we're going to put a package together it needs to be real simple, like 'here's a bundle of cash, come to our community.'"
Coun. Vicky Lefebvre noted, "When we met with the doctors, they recognized the need for four. I'd like to see us work with AHS, doctors and Hearts for Healthcare to ensure the incoming doctors do have the hospital privilege and can help our own doctors in emergency."
Not wanting to deter any doctors from setting up in Cold Lake, concerns were also raised about having doctors turned away by AHS - something councillors want to put an end to should they implement their own program.
"I don't want someone to be like a gatekeeper saying who can come and who can't. We've been going through the gatekeeper process...I think the community has lost out. We should involve AHS and consult the doctors, but I don't want them to be a gatekeeper," said Buckle.
"I agree with Bob (Buckle). The gatekeepers and having to go through this committee and that committee, it's not working," said Plain.
City administration will be taking the dialogue from councillors and use it to develop proposal for doctor recruitment in the City of Cold Lake. The recommendations will come back to council at a future corporate priorities committee.
