Morale very low among Red Deer Regional Hospital staff as emergency surgeries diverted

Exceptions are being made for life or limb cases, and patients already admitted to RDRHC.

AHS anticipates this to remain in place until end of week, though different avenues continue to be explored for earlier alleviation.

“We recognize such a diversion impacts our patients, who’ll receive care further from home than normal and in some cases, have a procedure postponed. This is not ideal and we regret the frustration and disruption such a step causes. This also impacts our surgical teams who are doing their utmost with finite resources to see as many patients as quickly as possible. Diverting patients is in no way a reflection of their efforts,” adds AHS.

“We are grateful for the support and understanding of not only teams in Red Deer, but also those in Calgary and Edmonton facilities for their collaboration in ensuring patients receive the care they need during such challenges.”

DOCTORS’ POINT OF VIEW

Orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Keith Wolstenholme, says the hospital is short at least seven anesthesiologists, due to retirements and relocations.

Wolstenholme says this is just the latest bit of evidence showing how much RDRHC is underfunded and under-resourced to serve Central Zone’s population of nearly half a million.

“It’s frustrating for sure. Red Deer Regional is full of dedicated and proud health care workers who are doing the absolute best with what they’re given. The reality is that for years now, we haven’t been given enough to adequately care for patients,” he says. “In one way, it is a bit embarrassing that we don’t have the resources we need.”

Wolstenholme says the latest rush of patients can be attributed to both regular weekend build-up, but also slippery sidewalks sending patients in with broken bones and the like.

According to Wolstenholme, morale among staff is very low, something Dr. Sean Gregg, a general surgeon, elaborated on to rdnewsNOW.

“We all went to medical school for various reasons, but we all want to do our job and look after people. That said, it’s increasingly difficult to keep showing up, putting one foot in front of another when we know we could do better with more people and resources,” says Gregg, who began his surgical career in Red Deer 13 years ago.

“It takes a toll because we’re spending our day apologizing for something we have no control over.”

Gregg clarifies that for surgeons, it’s not about the physical toll.

“We signed up for this job where we work 18 hours a day, but sometimes 24 or even 36 hours straight. We chose this profession because the rewards are great, but that becomes less true when you can’t do your job and successes are harder to come by,” he says. “For a lot of nurses in the OR, they’ve been spread thin for a long time. I’m not exhausted; I just want to work more, but the nurses and anesthesiologists are run down, and it’s a vicious cycle. For the staff we’ve retained, it becomes untenable for them, and they want to move on, which compounds the problem.”

In Gregg’s estimation, every surgeon at Red Deer Regional has formulated a Plan B, so to speak, in case they need to relocate.

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

One thing the doctors and AHS can agree on is that COVID has exacerbated the already tenuous situation of needing hospital expansion and to attract more staff. But Gregg says the messaging of AHS seemingly shows they aren’t in tune with how severely down morale is.

“When leadership’s response is incongruent, it’s increasingly demoralizing. You question your own experience, and whether it’s valid, or whether management is being conducted by people who understand,” says Gregg. “It’s at a point where they endanger their own credibility.”

Dr. Michael Mulholland, Facility Medical Director at RDRHC, and physician himself, understands the frustration, but assures health care workers management is acutely aware of how low things have become, mentally and emotionally speaking.

“It comes with a cost, but for people in health care, it’s a calling. From a management perspective, we are all working extremely hard, we listen, and our door is open to hear concerns,” says Mulholland. “Staff do share with me how they’re feeling, because they’re working overtime, and this is affecting families. The pandemic itself hasn’t left anyone unscathed.”

Mulholland notes two options, the Physician and Family Support Program, and the Employee and Family Support Program, both of which provide mental health supports.

“We provide care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, and unfortunately, right now, that comes with a price. But it’s also a privilege because it’s the most meaningful work anyone could have,” he says. “We had 600 or 700 people at this site engaged on the business case for hospital expansion. We are recruiting some highly motivated, highly educated and highly experienced young surgeons. When we do get this infrastructure expansion, we are going to see something really positive happen here.”

AHS says it continues to actively recruit anesthesiologists and OR nursing staff, as well as offer training to staff through an in-house OR training program.

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Morale very low among Red Deer Regional Hospital staff as emergency surgeries diverted

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