Opinion: Investment in training doctors a positive step

Article content material

In Southern Alberta, members of the agricultural medical neighborhood, and certainly the populace at massive, have been heartened by the latest 2024 provincial finances announcement of a $43-million allocation for a rural medical instructing college on the College of Lethbridge.

Whereas we look ahead to additional particulars to emerge for this initiative, the federal government has mentioned the college’s mandate (in collaboration with the College of Calgary) will likely be to coach and retain medical doctors in Southern Alberta, notably in smaller communities.

Article content material

Article content material

Officers will little doubt be inspecting profitable regional medical colleges as potential fashions, such because the Northern Medical Program in B.C. and Northern Ontario College of Medication (NOSM), the place strategies end in a 95-per-cent retention charge of scholars staying to turn into household practitioners in these areas.

The Alberta Medical Affiliation estimates upwards of 650,000 Albertans are looking for a household physician, and Main Care Community knowledge domestically (2021) estimates 43,000 of these are within the Lethbridge area. Rural areas are notably laborious hit. On its web site, the AMA presents the stark fact by way of knowledge gathered from front-line household physicians – Alberta’s household drugs system is collapsing, it says, urging residents to press their political officers about their plans to deal with the disaster.

An funding like this one, which prioritizes well being care in underserved areas, is a optimistic and hopeful step.

Internationally, most notably in Australia, profitable fashions may inform this initiative. Understanding this, and if this college is to result in a stronger health-care workforce throughout southern Alberta, it might do nicely to be given an autonomous finances, have a focussed admissions coverage, and boast a rurally focussed curriculum with an emphasis on workforce coaching that would come with doctor assistants (PAs), nurse practitioners (NPs), nurses, medical workplace assistants (MOAs), and licensed sensible nurses (LPNs).

Article content material

Article content material

In brief, a spot the place dream groups are made.

If an interprofessional mannequin is adopted, PAs and NPs skilled on the new college would graduate forward of the medical college students and will begin offering assist at clinics and emergency rooms about two years after the college opens.

Such a program may turn into a beacon for rural health-care workforce coaching, with the welcome side-effect of an inevitable financial upswing. The financial improvement profit seen in northern Ontario, roughly $100 million yearly, is just not unlikely on this area.

This is a chance to reverse the development of the evaporating pool of scholars selecting household drugs. Proof reveals when potential household medical doctors know they’ll practice the place they dwell – in smaller communities – and will likely be supplied with grounded experiences within rural communities, they’re more likely to stay in a neighborhood of that measurement to start their careers.

Lethbridge School has a lot to supply right here as nicely. The faculty trains LPNs and nurses for his or her first two years of the Bachelor of Nursing diploma (accomplished at U of L), MOAs (which changed the unit clerk program) and must be included within the planning, as nicely. Planners would possible do nicely to nourish additional collaboration between town’s two post-secondary establishments.

Article content material

This funding dedication pours somewhat gas into the tank of a system operating on fumes. We encourage Albertans to maintain it topped up by speaking to their legislative representatives and writing letters to media shops and authorities. Household medical doctors want all arms on deck.

Dr. Douglas Myhre, professor emeritus, Cumming College of Medication; Trevor Lewington, Mayor of Stirling and CEO of Financial Growth Lethbridge; Dr. Peter A. Koegler, Lethbridge, Dr. Richard Buck, Lethbridge; Dr. Morgan Hay, Lethybridge; Dr. Kristi Penner, Pincher Creek; Dr. Brent Francis, Lethbridge; Dr. David Koegler, Lethbridge;  Dr. Robert Wedel, co-founder and director of Well being Innovation in Motion; Cliff Elle, former superintendent Livingstone Vary College Division; Dr. Charlotte Haig, Lethbridge; Colleen Bianchi, Chair, Oldman River Well being Advisory Committee.

Article content material