Premier Pat Binns is emphasizing Government’s commitment to community hospitals given the current challenges of physician recruitment and the series of Souris Emergency Department closures.
Government has reaffirmed its commitment to Islanders that they will continue to provide access at all rural hospitals located throughout the Province in addition to a modern network of other health care programs, professionals and facilities.
“Government established an Enhanced Physician Recruitment Strategy that was developed in consultation with the Medical Society and the strategy continues to be funded by Government each year,” noted Premier Binns.
The annual physician recruitment and medical education budget is $1.2 million dollars. The recruitment strategy includes funding for family practice and specialist training, new medical school seats, medical trainee sponsorships, student loan assistance, location grants, relocation cost assistance, locum support, and continuing medical education. There is also financial support for a recruitment officer, enhanced recruitment resources, and incentives to attract international medical graduates.
Recently, government sponsored a workshop on physician recruitment. A recruitment professional visited the province and held a workshop which was attended by representatives from the Medical Society, College of Physicians and Surgeons and other healthcare professionals.
The recruitment professional met with staff, physicians and other stakeholders in the healthcare system. She reviewed our current physician recruitment strategy and, from these meetings and the workshop, the foundation for a new recruitment strategy was laid. As a result of this work, a new physician recruitment strategy for PEI is in the final stages of development.
Chester Gillan, Minister of Health said, “Health care is about people, people requiring quality services and the people providing the quality care. We recognize the need to continue strengthening our health care team on PEI to support the QEH, PCH, and the rural hospitals. All Island hospitals play a vital role in the delivery of health services to Islanders, including Souris Hospital.”
“We have added 33 physicians to PEI in the past ten years, and the number of physicians is the highest that has ever been in the province,” noted Minister Gillan. “We recognize the many challenges in the ongoing recruitment efforts for physicians but also recognize we have had many successes to date.”
Through meaningful community partnerships, we are bringing quality health care and Islanders together.
Minister Gillan noted that, “Vital to the effective delivery of quality health care is the active participation and leadership of communities and stakeholders. With the challenging situation in the Souris Hospital, we are establishing a committee of community residents and government officials to develop solutions to the ongoing challenge. This group’s mandate is to explore ways to address the situation now and into the future.
The Government strongly believes that communities need direct involvement in decisions which involve the delivery of health care.
“Hospitals have a special place in our communities and contribute not just to the health of Islanders, but to the health of those communities and regions they serve,” added Premier Binns. “That is why our Government has been steadfast in its commitment to maintain access to rural health care in the province, which includes the Souris Hospital. A commitment that remains as strong today as the first time it was made.”
Minister Gillan also wished to clarify the process for the payment for physicians who provide coverage in emergency departments in the province.
“The rate of pay for physicians for Emergency Department services is negotiated with the Medical Society and is part of the Master Agreement which covers payments for physician services in the province until March 31, 2007,“ noted Minister Gillan. “The agreed upon rates of pay for emergency departments vary from hospital to hospital based on the volume of patients, the severity of the condition of people seen by physicians and the requirement for being on-site as opposed to being on-call.”