Corner Brook doctor quits practice, citing burnout — and failed government retention efforts

Dr. Melissa O’Brien, a dedicated family doctor in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, has made the difficult decision to close her practice next month. The ongoing shortage of family physicians in the province has left her feeling overworked and overwhelmed, with no other choice but to step away from her clinic at Medical on Second in the Veitch Wellness Centre.

Having served her community since 2011, O’Brien is deeply saddened by the impact her departure will have on her patients, particularly the elderly and young children who rely on her care. Despite her best efforts to find a replacement to take over her practice, she has been unsuccessful in attracting a new doctor to the area.

One of the major challenges O’Brien faces is the inability to compete with the incentives and bonuses offered by N.L. Health Services to recruit doctors to other communities. She believes that the focus should be on retaining existing healthcare professionals like herself, rather than solely on recruitment efforts.

The Department of Health has stated that they are committed to supporting family medicine physicians and addressing administrative burdens, but O’Brien feels that the amount of paperwork and administrative work in family medicine is overwhelming. She often finds herself working late into the night, juggling patient care with endless paperwork.

Despite attempting a practice share approach with another family doctor, O’Brien was unable to sustain the arrangement due to incentives offered for more competitive positions within N.L. Health Services. The Department of Health has suggested the practice share approach as a solution, but O’Brien’s experience highlights the challenges faced by family physicians in smaller communities.

In an effort to attract a new doctor to Corner Brook, the Family Practice Start Up Program offers a $150,000 incentive plus a two-year income guarantee for those willing to join a fee-for-service practice or take over O’Brien’s patients. Despite these incentives, O’Brien has made the difficult decision to close her practice on December 17.

Moving forward, O’Brien plans to continue working part-time at the cancer clinic and at the hospital, depending on the need. She acknowledges that the decision to close her practice was not an easy one, but feels she had limited options in terms of continuing her work in family medicine.

The closure of O’Brien’s practice serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by family physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador. As the province grapples with a shortage of healthcare professionals, it is essential that more support and resources are provided to ensure the sustainability of primary care services in communities like Corner Brook.