Surgeon shortage sends Thessalon patient to Michigan

A gap in general surgery coverage over the long weekend at Sault Area Hospital forced one Thessalon patient to be shunted to the Michigan Soo for treatment, hospital officials disclosed today.

Asked about the fallout from pre-announced coverage gaps the last two weekends, hospital spokesman Brady Irwin initially said that no patients had been shipped out because of a lack of general surgeons.

But after slipping out of a news conference today attended by Algoma Academy of Medicine President Tim Best and Sault MPP David Orazietti (both shown), Irwin returned to disclose that a Thessalon patient suffering from gastro-intestinal bleeding was sent to War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie Michigan on Saturday.

The transfer was accomplished swiftly with co-operation from the International Bridge and U.S. Homeland Security officials, Irwin said.

He said hospital officials were initially unaware of the transfer because it was arranged directly by the patient's physician without hospital involvement.

Irwin's disclosure came as Orazietti and local health care authorities met with reporters to offer reassurances that everything possible is being done to alleviate the Sault's ongoing doctor-shortage problem.

Orazietti outlined a series of provincial initiatives aimed at bolsrering Ontario's supply and distribution of physicians.

These included increased enrolment in medical schools, improving opportunities for foreigh-trained doctors. and the start-up of the Northern Ontario Medical School in September of next year.

Dr. Jodie Stewart was introduced as a young Saultite who has returned to her community to practise as an emergency room physician.

Four other Sault-born medical students have committed to return home after they finish their training over the next couple of years, reporters were told.

Bill Walker, chair of the SAH board of directors, compared physcian recruitment to breeding elephants, indicating that time is needed to reap the benefits.