The $250-an-hour Band-Aid: How this rural northeastern Ontario hospital keeps its emergency room open
Emergency care in the central Manitoulin region in Ontario is a critical issue due to the family doctor shortage in northeastern Ontario. This shortage has caused some emergency rooms in the area to close, while others are constantly at risk of shutting down due to the lack of physicians. Hospitals in the region have resorted to increasing fees to attract locums, temporary visiting doctors from other areas, with some being offered $250 an hour to cover emergency shifts.
In communities like Thessalon and on St. Joseph Island, ERs have temporarily closed in the past year, forcing patients on the north shore of Lake Huron to travel further for urgent care. However, the Manitoulin Health Centre, which comprises two hospitals in Little Current and Mindemoya, has managed to avoid closures so far. Paula Fields, the president and CEO of the Manitoulin Health Centre, revealed that they have come close to shutting down on several occasions, and it is likely that they will face a crisis that may trigger a temporary closure in the future.
One recent incident involved a locum canceling due to a personal emergency, leaving the hospital short-staffed. Local physicians stepped in to cover the shifts and keep the doors open. Despite the challenges, many patients rely on the emergency services provided by these hospitals. Karlee Demera, a parent seeking care for her child at the Little Current hospital, expressed concern about losing their family doctor and the limited options for medical care in the area.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor, a rural generalist in Mindemoya, highlighted the strain on local doctors who are overworked and understaffed. He mentioned that the province doubled the fee for locums to ensure the ER remains open. However, the reliance on temporary doctors is not a sustainable solution. Dr. Maurianne Reade emphasized the unpredictability of getting locums and the pressure it puts on the local physicians.
Dr. Shady Tadross, a locum covering shifts in Mindemoya, shared his commitment to helping rural communities despite the challenges it poses to his personal life. He acknowledged the importance of providing essential medical services to those in need. Lori Oswald, the executive director of the Manitoulin Central Family Health team, called for a long-term solution to attract full-time doctors to rural areas and ensure their well-being.
Some patients, like Dave Clark, are worried about the finite resource of locums and the potential danger of running out of doctors to provide care. The Ontario government’s recent announcement of new funding for the health-care system offers hope for improving access to family-care providers. However, the details of how this will be implemented in places like Mindemoya remain unclear.
The ongoing challenges in delivering emergency care in the central Manitoulin region underscore the need for sustainable solutions to address the physician shortage and ensure quality healthcare for residents. It is crucial to prioritize the well-being of both patients and healthcare providers to maintain a reliable and efficient healthcare system in rural communities.