Locals are encouraged to celebrate the dedication of their family doctors during Family Doctor Appreciation Week in Canada, Nov. 12 to 17.
And the soon to be departing Dr. Hal Irvine will take special notice of his profession and the community he has served with distinction.
He has been in Sundre for more than 30 years and has been proudly serving patients at the Greenwood Family Physicians Clinic.
“What I see as the most important part of being a family doctor is the relationship that we have with our patients, particularly over time,” said Irvine.
“To me that's what makes family practice so rewarding. I get to know people and help them with various problems through different stages of their life.”
With a busy schedule of 60 to 65 hours a week, Irvine spends most of his time inside the hectic emergency room. He says summer is typically the busiest time.
“It's not unusual in the summer that you're up all night.”
With plans to semi-retire over the next six to 12 months, Irvine and his wife have plans to live in Nelson, B.C. at their condo for the next few years until they decide where they want to settle for the rest of their lives.
“It's harder to be up at night than it used to be…I'm certainly not ready to quit medicine by any means, but I'm certainly ready to slow down a bit.”
Irvine said there have been big changes in the clinic with six doctors leaving, but fortunately they formed the Community Health Professionals Attraction Committee last year.
“The work of that committee has just been phenomenal in attracting new doctors to the community.”
Irvine said they have nine new doctors coming to Sundre by September of 2013.
“I do feel appreciated by my patients and by the community…Sundre has just been a very wonderful and supportive community,” said Irvine.
“It's been a real privilege working in Sundre and serving my patients and the community as much as I've been able to.”
