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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-02-04, Page 1I O NURON TRACTOR (519)235-1115 www.hurontractor.com Chamber meeting page 14 TIMES-ADVOCXT Exeter, Ontario, Canada EXETEVIVIY KS HA KS HA vs N. MIDDLESEX FRI. FEB. 6 8:00 p.m. South Huron Rec Centre Wednesday, February 4, 2004 1.25 (includes GST) SWORRM bringing doctors to rural areas By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Despite the decision of Dr. Y.M. Lamb to leave South Huron, efforts to attract new doctors to rural areas are meeting with more success according to Laurie Roberts, Community Development Officer (CDO) for the Southwestern Ontario Rural Regional Medicine program (SWOR- RM). SWORRM was started in 1997 by Dr. Jim Rourke in affiliation with the University of Western Ontario. It is intended to promote rural prac- tice to medical students starting in their first year and continuing through their training including undergraduate and postgraduate work. The number of underserviced com- munities in Ontario has increased from 57 in 1996 to 112 in December 2001, with a shortage of 503 family physi- cians. Roberts said one reason for the increase may be that communities became aware the underserviced area program existed and were probably underserviced prior to 1996. The role of the CDO, which was start- ed in 1998 and funded by the Ministry of Health is to provide a link between communities recruiting and physicians looking for places to practice. Roberts says the doctor to patient ratio the ministry designates as accept- able for properly serviced communities is one doctor to 1,380 people. According to Ministry of Health infor- mation as of the beginning of January there are 96 underserviced communi- ties in southern Ontario and 38 in the north. Despite the shortage, Roberts says SWORRM has been a success. "In the last year we have assisted 48 communi- ties in recruitment and retention initia- tives, and we've had more than 50 physicians placed through our pro- gram." "What I like to do is provide informa- tion about communities that have been successful with recruitment to some that have not been as successful to let them know what initiatives are work - mg„ CDO's also co-ordinate the International Medical graduate (IMG) program which saw an eight part plan implemented in the last year as well as another upcoming change in the next month. "The ministry will be having an IMG clearing house, which is in the process now and they believe will be up and running by early February. It's one umbrella organization the IMG would contact and they would receive infor- mation and applications based on their qualifications." One of the challenges of recruiting IMGs for rural areas especially in Northern Ontario is assimilating them to a different culture and Roberts said it will be an ongoing challenge. "You're going to have the communi- ties which will not be able to provide the essentials for some of the IMG's such as a mosque, so these are some of the things we have to take into consid- eration. Communities have to take into consideration what they have available, but also what areas in close proximity have to offer." What physicians are looking for according to Roberts, is the group turnkey clinic. "Most of the residents I come in con- tact with say "absolutely not, I am not interested in a solo practice because I don't want the hassle of the operation side of the business." In addition pro- gram directors don't recommend new grads practice on their own." "What we hear a lot and what we relay to the communities is these grad- uates are $80,000 to $100,000 in debt now from medical school, and what they're looking for is a group turnkey operation where they're not paying out the money to start a practice." Another Ministry of Health initiative run by SWORRM is the free tuition pro- gram which offers up to $10,000 per year for four years in exchange for a three or four year return of service commitment in a community designat- ed underserviced. Roberts said although it has been fairly successful, with so many under - serviced areas, the program doesn't differentiate between communities. South Huron clinical site leader Maureen Cole said South Huron used the underserviced designation to recruit Dr. Krista Fatum in 2001 and Dr. Bihimai, who will take up residence here in 2005. See DOCTORS page 2 The first baby to a Times -Advocate subscriber in 2004 is Tyler James Parsons, born Jan. 19 to Jim and Donna Parsons of Exeter. Big sister is three-year-old Abby.Tyler was born at St. Joseph's Hospital in London, weighing in at 7 Ib. 8 oz. (photo/Mary Simmons) Snider residents oppose proposed development By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — Residents of Snider Crescent are overwhelmingly against a proposed subdivision in the area. A full gallery attended South Huron council's Monday night meeting, during which council was asked to consider a plan of subdivision for the project and two zoning bylaw amendments. After hearing objections from neighbouring residents, council deferred the decision and will discuss the proposal again within the next two weeks. Huron County planner Claire Dodds - Weir explained the subdivision plan would see six townhouse lots consisting of 20 units and one single family resi- dence. The total area of the subdivision is about 1.35 hectares and sits between Snider Crescent and Mary Street. Zoning for the townhouses will need to be changed from developmental to residen- tial high density special provision, while the property on the single dwelling home would be changed from developmental to residential low density. Despite the words "high density" in the six lots, Dodds -Weir said density is actually low, in this case 16 units per hectare. Dodds -Weir, who recommended council support the subdivision, outlined several See SNIDER page 2 mstrong 99 vinyl sheet flooring FROM S.F. (10 -year no rip, no tear warranty) IN STOCK NEW PATTERNS ARE HERE! Produced under license of the UNRIN GROUP goorsFirst Innovative Flooring 457 Main St. S. Exeter 235-4401 E-mail: InnovativeFlooring@FloorsFirst.com Website:www.FloorsFirst.com/innovativeflooring (next to Dinneys) NEW SELECTION JUST ARRIVED IN -STOCK Carpet -Vinyl -Remnants OVER 20,196 S.F. IN STOCK 077,