By Angela Hill

A physician for Spiritwood

Apr 21, 2011 | 11:59 AM

There is good news for the people of Spiritwood — a doctor has been recruited and plans to start this summer.

This is just a first, positive step forward and more physicians are being lined up, said Tracy Schira-Parker, spokeswoman for Northern Lakes Medical Committee, the area’s doctor recruitment organization.

“We’re getting closer and we’re starting to be able to see the results,” she said.

“We are hoping in the next year for sure we have a full complement of four to five physicians here.”

Dr. Patrick McSharry is coming from overseas but will begin to practice right away as he has previously worked in Canada.

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There was some concern over a condition that part of his job would be to take two on-call shifts per month in Shellbrook, but they were able to work through it.

“We weren’t going to allow this doctor to walk away. With a lot of dedication and hard work we were able to salvage that (relationship) between the region and the physician and us. We were able to come to a common ground and get the job offer signed,” Schira-Parker said.

“It certainly would appear to me that a strong partnership between community and region and the practitioner themselves is key to the success and it is about communications,” said Cecile Hunt, CEO of the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region.

The time in Shellbrook is designed to help build professional relationships as well as keep emergency room skills sharp, so the doctor will be prepared to work on call when acute care services return to Spiritwood, said Cecile Hunt.

“Once the Spiritwood facility would reopen that requirement to participate in call in Shellbrook would cease,” she said.

McSharry will have a clinic in the community — the Northern Lakes Health Committee is looking at how to set that up through the municipality.

While he hasn’t signed a guarantee, the doctor has verbally committed for two years, said Schira-Parker.

“In my experience getting them to sign a contract is just really comfort paper because it doesn’t really hold up if he decides to leave,” she said.

So far it has cost the community about $50,000 in recruitment costs, this includes Global Medics Recruitment Agency fees, moving expenses, six months lodging and vehicle and licencing fees.

“It’s not cheap to do,” Schira-Parker said.

The committee does not provide a signing bonus.

Schira-Parker said the committee has been working closely with other rural communities around the province as they struggle to find doctors. She said she has a message for them.

“Don’t be discouraged that doctors don’t want to come to your community because that’s not true, it’s the fact that it’s a lot of bureaucracy and it’s a lot of process,” she said.

When it comes to what doctors want, it depends on conditions, said Bryan Salte, associate registrar with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan.

“There is nothing that keeps physicians from going to rural locations. Physicians are like any other entrepreneur or businesses person they can locate wherever they want to locate,” he said.

“If, for example, a physician wants to relocate to Spiritwood, I’m not aware of anything that would prevent them from doing so.”

Patterns tend to be clear though, physicians might be interested in coming to rural areas, but they aren’t staying for a long time, he said.

See related: New ideas in the quest for doctors

Doctors to depart Shellbrook

ahill@panow.com