(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

pleas ignored, says mayor

Blackfalds clinic feeling impact of national doctor shortage

Sep 1, 2022 | 3:13 PM

One of two Blackfalds clinics is set to close one day a week — on Thursdays — throughout September and potentially longer, leaving that clinic’s operators frustrated.

Apollo Health Clinic opened one year ago, giving the fast-growing town of about 12,000 a second family clinic. Apollo added a second full-time doctor to their roster earlier this year, but that person recently departed for another opportunity.

The clinic, which can’t disclose that doctor’s reason for leaving, is operated by Dr. Muti Kauchali, and managed by wife Rubina. It has registered close to 2,000 patients in under a year.

The Kauchalis recently presented to Blackfalds town council, expressing discontent with the processes and procedures of Alberta Health Services when it comes to doctor recruitment of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) as there is a shortage of Canadian Trained Family Physicians to rural areas.

The pair’s understanding is that AHS directs doctors to Red Deer by default, leaving smaller towns — such as Blackfalds which is within AHS’s sub geographic area they refer to as Red Deer Metro – in the lurch. However AHS is saying it doesn’t interfere in physician recruitment.

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“It is false to suggest that AHS is diverting physicians away from some communities in favour of others. Within the Central Zone, there are a number of sub-geographic areas, including Red Deer Metro, used for workforce planning and management purposes,” AHS says in a statement.

“A new physician recruited for a family medicine position with AHS at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, for example, is free to have a private practice in Red Deer or a surrounding community at their discretion. AHS recruits to communities as a whole, based on the needs of AHS facilities or programs. New physicians may join an existing clinic or start a clinic of their own.”

But still, the Kauchalis say they’ve attempted to bring in more doctors through AHS, and have been unsuccessful.

“It was my vision to bring accessible health care to a community in need and that’s what I’ve done in Delburne as well,” Dr. Kauchali told council. “To me, that’s more fulfilling than going to a clinic in Red Deer and working there.”

Dr. Kauchali also operates a clinic in Delburne, which is also in need of family physicians.

She tells rdnewsNOW updates will be given to patients weekly, with more of the same closures expected in October as they work with Alberta Health Services to come up with a solution.

“Some nearby doctors have agreed to help, and we will have some locums covering, but we’d prefer a full-time doctor so patients can have continuity of care, something paramount for any medical clinic. Turning people away is not easy, and it’s a difficult position to be in. We hope the community understands that we’re trying to do the best we can,” Kauchali says.

“This situation means we’re turning people away to go to Lacombe, Sylvan Lake or Red Deer, but that’s especially hard when Sylvan Lake is constantly closed, Lacombe is fairly small, and Red Deer is always very busy. And when those places are closed or overwhelmed, we get inundated with calls.”

Kauchali says the situation has been stressful for all involved, and has led to some abuse of clinic staff by frustrated patients.

“We do give priority to local citizens and registered patients, but it’s difficult to take on new ones at this time. We’re turning away about 20 each day. Our request to the community is please bear with us as we try our best. We do appreciate your patience and apologize for the inconvenience,” she says.

Mayor Jamie Hoover is equally as frustrated, saying Blackfalds has long been underserved for health care.

“Medical services is one of the areas we’ve well outgrown. As long as I’ve lived here, we’ve never had more than one doctor, thus we were extremely excited when Apollo arrived. We worked with them, had incentives for them to establish themselves here, and it’s for no lack of desire on their or our part to have this happen,” Hoover tells rdnewsNOW.

“It’s a lack of commitment from the province and Alberta Health Services to work with Blackfalds to fill this void. There’s a shortage of doctors across the country and that isn’t new information, but Blackfalds is continually growing; we aren’t small anymore. I do feel like a lot of our pleas to the province have gone unheard.”

Both the Ministry of Health, and office of Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Ron Orr, whose constituency Blackfalds lies within, did not return rdnewsNOW’s multiple requests for comment. Mayor Hoover notes, however, the town’s CAO has spoken with Orr.

Alberta Health Services’ statement continues, adding that it’s working hard to recruit physicians.

“Clinic owners (physicians) and community-based recruitment committees can and do recruit other physicians outside of AHS processes. AHS does not block nor interfere in this process,” it says.

“Physicians recruited to a community externally to AHS who wish to join the AHS Medical Staff – that is, those who have hospital privileges – are able to apply after receiving appropriate credentialing by the College of Physician and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA).”

AHS says it understands why communities are concerned about physician availability.

“AHS continues to work with community-based recruitment committees and partners such as the Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) to attract new providers. AHS’ goal is to ensure that physician resources are placed optimally throughout the Zone to serve the entire population.”