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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1999-03-17, Page 6•-TNI HURON EX►O$IT011„ March 17, 11$1 Recruitment blueprint made Area doctor helping to bring more physicians to this region BY AMY ZOETHOUT Goderich Signal -Star Staff A number of political and medical representatives from 'Southwestern Ontario met in Chatham this month and drafted a blueprint for recruiting and retaining family physicians in these underserviced communities. A report recently sent to MPPs by Goderich doctor and rural educator James Rourke stated that Southwestern Ontario is 330 doctors :short of the provincial average. The report highlights the shortage Of both family physicians and specialists, access to family physicians unavailable in many communities. access to rural emergency medical' services at serious risk. access to rural family practice obstetrical care at serious risk, and access to GP/anaesthesia services at serious risk. - The meeting held on Feb. 24 between MPPs. community leaders; and officials from a number of medical organizations focussed on these concerns and resulted in a "blueprint" dealing with these issues. "The consensus was w;e need to prioritize what need to he done and get on with it." said Rourke. who is also the director of Southwestern Ontario Rural Medicine (SWORM). He added that they .also need to get government support and all - party support behind this issue. "MPPs from all parties are, concerned." said Rourke. "because this affects all of their, constituents. They want to see the people of Southwestern Ontario have good access to quality health care." He added that he was concerned that without the support of local MPPs, getting the problem recognized in Toronto would be difficult. "Clearly it seems to have struck a chord among the people of Southwestern Ontario," said Rourke. "This is a very serious issue. The time to do something is now." In 1993, the provinces agreed to cut medical student numbers by 10 per cent. Rourke said it takes four years to. train medical d'ociors, which comes to 1997. It takes two more years to' train a family doctor. making it 1999 when the serious shortage will be felt. "That ill-advised move in 1993 will -really start hitting us." he said. Of particular concern, he, added, is the shortage of physicians in more urban centres like Kitchener -Waterloo, which is short 50 doctors. and the Niagara Region. which is short 94'family doctors. "If (doctors) don't set up practice within a month or two. where there are more jobs for their spouses, it is going to be a' real challenge in smaller communities. We have to look now...the problem is clearly going to get worse, particularly as the number of doctors `in Canada decreases. "Our population is growing, our population is aging. so action needs to be taken." Rourke said that more doctors need to be educated for rural practice. The University of Western Ontario has recently added Quilt goes to Marg Smale, Clara Ducharm, Bea Kale, Mary Margaret Muloney, Kay O'Rourke, Vera Murray, Kate Aslin and Rosa VanBergen were among the St. James Catholic Women's League . who created a Right to Life quilt that will be sent to Ottawa for display in May for the 30th anniversary of the first abortion. HILGENDORFF PHOTOS Ottawa display About 20 people have put a month's worth of work into a Precious Lifc Quilt being sent to Parliament Hill in May. The St. James Catholic Women's League are one of potentially hundreds of groups making quilts in connection with national Right to Life organizations to be sent to Ottawa. Each patch in each of the quilts is to represent a memorial to an aborted baby and will be used to mark the 30th anniversary of the first abortion. The St James CWL quilt has 56 hlocks with nine squares in each. - Different members took part in making the hlocks, putting them together and placing writing in several of the squares. The quilt also contains heart and cross patterns which stand • as representations of life. While the quilts will be displayed on Parliament Hill, they will be returned to the makers with plans for the quilts to be given to people in need. The CWL hopes to display its quilt at the international Plowing Match this summer before it is given away. Work began on the quilt in November and it has been on display for a little more than a week at St James Catholic Church. • By Scott Hilgendorff this to its curriculum. First- year medical students are - being sent to train in rural communities. "This has been a tremendous success," said Rourke, adding that a number of students have commentfd that this was one of their best learning experiences. There is also the need to expand the number of medical students at UWO, the only medical school in Southwestern .Ontario, "because the need is so great in this area." With a similar population as Southwestern Ontario, Eastern Ontario has about 1,000 more doctors. There are two medical schools in the east. "They are more likely to practice where they study," said Rourke. ' "This is such a wonderful - part of the province we live in with many great small communities," he said. "If we can provide the students with the.right teaming experience and make these conditions more attractive and sustainable, we will be much more successful:" SWORM recently hired Jay Orchard _to help local communities organize more effective recruitment of family physicians. Rourke added That'the challenge is to make rural work more attractive, Students coming out of school. for the most part, are looking to work in- "modern and well supported clinic facilities...with the "appropriate intorrnation technology, and staff support." ' Rourke stated that Goderich is more fortunate than some other surrounding areas. "It's a great place to live and practice," he said. "The hospital and physicians and been very involved in getting students" to the community. While they .are still trying to get two more doctors for the town, "it is not as serious as other communities." Rourke also attend a meeting at UWO with Federal Health Minister Allan Rock. When addressing a group of experts at the university. Rock stated. "The two-tier health care I'm most concerned with is the gap between urban and rural healthcare access." that the federal government has established a directive for rural health care and is anticipating further announcements from the government on this issue. • "Now that we have everyone interested, I think it's time to actually do something," said Rourke. GRANTS AVAILABLE , NOTICE TO ALL DESIGNATED PROPERTY OWNERS ' IN THE TOWN OF SEAFORTH If you are the owner of a designated property in Seaforth you may be eligible for a loan and/or grant. Guidelines and , Applications Forms are available at the Town Hall and MUST be submitted for review to the Seaforth LACAC for approval prior to April 1 /99 For more inforthatton. con- tact Jane Taylor at 527-0160 ALL THE BEST TO THE CURLING TEAM OF Neil McGavin Neil Dolmage Don Jewitt & Gord Pryce representing the Kinbum Foresters at the CANADIAN NATIONALS in Goderich from Whitney-Ribey Funeral Home Seaforth 527-1390 SPRING & SUMMER REGISTRATION NIGHTS Monday, Mar. 29 & Tuesday, Mar. 30 7:00to9:00PM Seaforth & District Community Centres Register For MINOR BALL • MINOR SOCCER • ROLLER HOCKEY Please come prepared with Birth Cert. #'s and Health Card #'s. For more information call 527-0882 Guaranteed Investment CertNicatss from more than 30 banks and trust companies to provide YOU with the best rates. Doug Eslott s. kWh 5.6% 5 Year RRSP 535% 3 rear PAM 46%1.0 10rn Oft. All Deposits Insured Within Limits Rates subtect To Venficseon irwehnen1Ce*e am.t�.11aus Seaforth 96 Main St. Serving Seaforth Since 1986 527-0420 Avon DISTRICT SCHOOL Maitland Learning for a Lifetime FRENCH IMMERSION "FINAL" REGISTRATION Registration for GRADE ONE FRENCH IMMERSION for September 1999, has been extended to 4:00 p.m. Friday, March 26, 1999. . Contact your local Public School Principal as soon as possible to register. Sites have been established at Grey Central Public School (north), Huron Centennial Public School (central/south) and Bedford Public School (Stratford). For the Grey Central site and the Huron Centennial site, transportation will be available using the respective elementary school bus routes with the provision that parents take their children to' the nearest existing bus stop. For further information contact the Seaforth Administration Centre at: - (519) 527-2266 OR 1-800-592-5437 and ask for Dianne Stevenson, ext. 124 Lome Rachlis Director of Education Wendy Anderson Chair HEALTH ON THE HILL A Review of activities at SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL DIABETES COUNSELLINIj individual counselling is available by appointment by contacting 527-1650 ext. 234. Canadian Diabetes Educators. Dianne Wood Reg.N. &Jor Lorraine Devereaux. Registered Dietitian will address your personal Diabetes concerns. Doctor referral is not necessary. PERINATAL INFORMATION SESSIONS; all interested expectant parents are welcome and encouraged to attend "Pain Control in Labour & Delivery" facilitated by Dr. Heather Percival and Physiotherapy Rep. Thursday. Marti 18. 1999 az 7:30 p.m. in Conference Room 2 of the Seaforth Community Hospital. Pre -registration would be appreciated by valling Nursing Office 527-3001 weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. "MORNING OUT" is a New Parent Support Service offered each Fnday,10:00- 11 30 a.m. with Karen Searle. Facilitator. Moms/Dads & infants are welcome to attend and team/share information and experiences with discussion on a variety of • postpartum topics. March 19th: 12:00 p.m. Cold Potluck in Conf. Rm. 2 (former Group pork -mums welcomel ' - 12:30 p.m. "Infant Concerts." Shawn Edwards. M.D. HOSPITAL AUXILIARY extends a welcome invitation to prospective new members. Come on out to our next Meeting,'iUes. April 13th @ 7:30 p.a. in the Conference Room 2 at the Hospital. Enjoy some fun. fellowship and see what we are all about. Refreshments will .be served. For further information. contact Mahon MacLean 527-0814. Frances Tentero 522-1979 or Pauline Bennett 527- 0367 COLLEGE OF NURSES INSERVICE Linda Stewart. Reg.N. will be presenting to RN/RPNs on the standard. "Therapeutic Nurse-Clleat• Relationships" Thursday. MEL 8, 1999 @ 14:00 Hrs. in Conf. Rm. 2. This inservice will provide nurscs with an opportunity to learn about the new standard and to complete a Learning Plan for their Quality Assurance Program. It will.. provide follow-up information to the College's, "One Is One Too Many" - education resource. For information. and to pre -register. please contact Grace at Nursing Office 527-3001. "HEART TO HEART" a post discharge teaching program targeted to those who have had a heart attack. heart surgery or angina patients will be presented April 1999. For funber information and to pre -register. contact Facihtaior. Valene Poisson at 527.0320. r CVA 1414 M/CP v • &Jaw PROWL •Elim.h.lrnrl II PROWL •NIorHsmnrl PROWL •.itrnnnr erformance Enhanced You need a weed control solution that works on your farm and your budget. Attack weeds early and get season -long control with PROWL in your tank - mix. It's a proven performer at a price you can afford. 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