A new funding agreement is being proposed by hospitals in the region to help reduce the doctor shortage.
Outgoing President and CEO of Lake of the Woods District Hospital Ray Racette says the new model would allow physicians to participate in all aspects of medicine locally.
“It’s called the Rural Generalist model, and it’s really for physicians who want to work in within our area, within all communities including First Nation communities,” explains Racette.
“It’s creating a model for them, which would cover all the services that they would provide in primary care, but it would also cover services in hospitals and emergency departments.”
Racette adds this new funding model would allow doctors to work in a number of different fields, not just one or two.
“In this new model of service that’s being discussed here it incorporates primary care, physician care in emergency rooms and physician care in hospital.”
Racette says they are currently discussing the model with the Ministry of Health and is optimistic that it might be adopted.
He adds that the Rural Physician Incentive Program, which has helped staff emergency rooms in the region has been extended to September.
