Central Algoma is currently enduring a shortage of full-time Family Physicians. Although there are 4 community sponsored Minister of Health (MOH) contract physician positions, all four positions remain vacant as of time of publication. Thankfully for patients the nursing staff along with locums are partnering with local pharmacies to bring health care to patients who have thus far bore the brunt of the current doctor shortage. From early 2020 the exodus of health care professionals has continued and many believe the toll of running a family practice along with a steady workload in the local hospital combined with the onset of COVID-19 helped to sway the doctors in their decision to leave. For many the exodus resulted in an array of emotions that started with anger, confusion and dismay. These emotions still simmer in some. Others have grown despondent and depressed. All of these outcomes I believe stem from the same basic human emotion: Fear. Fear of suddenly having no doctor to monitor your condition. No doctor to follow through on that referral that was years in the making for you. No doctor to give you the nudge required to get that spot on you biopsied so you can put your fears of cancer aside. No doctor to introduce to a baby so that a long term bond can form between doctor and patient. No doctor to help guide you through the first steps of coming clean. No doctor to give you medical advice. No doctor to act as a stepping stone to a specialist. No family doctor means no continuity in your health care. Family physicians are a bond that grows over time . The sooner we can find and hire doctors willing to take up a family practice the sooner patients can begin to regain a relationship with their front line health care contact. Their family doctor.
The path to fixing our doctor shortage seems fairly straightforward. Currently the north operates under an agreement known as the Rural & Northern Physician Group Agreement (RNPGA). This formula broken down is designed to provide primary care in rural communities with predictable financial support for physicians. This model has been around a long time and at one time may have been the best option but the current MPP for Algoma Manitoulin believes this model is whats hindering physicians from wanting to come to the central Algoma area now.
MPP Mike Mantha has reported that there are doctors who are interested in filling the positions available but they are not interested in working under the old model and instead want to work within the confines of a ‘Health Team’ model. Citing the fact that along with the family physician practices there is a hospital as well as a nursing home in the catchment area Mr. Mantha submits that for those reasons the RNPGA, which may still work well in other parts of the north, simply does not work well for central Algoma. He has brought forth a proposal from the East Algoma Primary Work Team and Huron Shores Family Health Team that would incorporate the medical clinics in Thessalon, Bruce Mines, and Richards Landing into the existing Huron Shores Health Team.
This collaborative care approach was intended to provide more allied professional support which in turn gives patients more specialized physicians in the surrounding area. An outcome that can benefit everyone involved. With a more well rounded health care system in place patients can get more of their health care concerns alleviated locally as opposed to the costly trips to southern Ontario many are forced to make today. This proposal was submitted by Mr. Mantha months ago to the Ministry of Health for consideration. Unfortunately the province went through an election which for all intensive purposes brought business to a halt at the MOH. Months later the newly elected government is still getting settled in and the MOH has a new minister in charge. Sylvia Jones is now the minister of health. Until such time as her Ministry makes a decision to open up debate about forgoing an existing, long standing practice in how the north staffs its physicians residents here can expect this crisis to continue. The proposal has been submitted. It differs from what is the currant model to provide physicians in the north. Until the MOH opens the floor up to different solutions there does not seem to be any way forward.
There are those who are advocating that local clinic staff take on the added burden of collecting patient stories and data to help demonstrate the diminished care patients are experiencing. My fear here is staff burnout which helps no one. Sadly there are no quick fixes so buckle up. This could take awhile.