Increasing the enrollment at medical schools in Alberta is one recommendation some local leaders in Olds would make if they were appointed to Premier Jim Prentice's panel charged with reviewing rural health care.
According to Mel Giles, chair of the Olds Institute for Community and Regional Development's Physician Attraction and Retention Committee, one of the reasons why rural communities recruit physicians from elsewhere is because universities at home are not producing enough medical graduates.
Giles suggested creating more opportunities for students to study medicine.
“That would probably be my number 1 point that I'd be pushing for,” he said.
Olds mayor Judy Dahl would agree.
“When you talk about some of the findings, it is going to be employment, in my opinion,” Dahl said. “Having qualified nurses and doctors, because we don't put enough of them through our universities. They need to start there, in my opinion.”
When Prentice showed up at the Olds Hospital and Care Centre on Sept. 23, he announced that a panel would conduct a 90-day review of rural health care services, focusing on: timely access, specialist services, use of existing facilities, engaging communities with planning and policy, recruitment and retention of workers and the link between economic development and services.
The panel will be chaired by Richard Starke, the MLA for Vermillion-Lloydminster, and will start with communities with a population of 1,250 and less, then those with 1,250 to 2,500 people and finally, those with 2,500 people or more.
Members of the panel include Dr. Allan Garbutt, a doctor from Crowsnest Pass who previously served as president of the Alberta Medical Association; Bonnie Sansregret, a rural health advocate; and Dr. Shannon Spenceley, president of the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta.
After the 90-day period, the panel will report back to newly-appointed Health Minister Stephen Mandel with its findings.
Opposition party critics have dismissed the government plan, saying that action is needed, not further study.
But according to Dahl and Giles, a review isn't a bad idea.
“I think we should be taking stock of what is being offered in our communities. I don't see anything wrong with that,” Giles said.
Dahl said a review would allow the new health minister to confirm the state of the health care system.
Giles believes health services have been provided with the assumption that what suits large centres would also work for rural Alberta.
He added that the government should consider the diversity of province, which includes big cities but also small communities.
“They can't just cookie-cut a medical process and apply it to the entire province,” he said.
