By June, locum doctors in Hay River and N.W.T. will get a pay increase to help offset doctor shortages. In the meantime Hay River’s emergency department has been using a virtual doctor model all week.
On April 30, N.W.T.’s Health and Social Services Authority announced an increase in pay for locum physician rates coming into effect on June 1.
Krystal Pidborochynski, communications director at N.W.T.’s Health and Social Services. confirmed there is no on-site physician in Hay River’s ER until tomorrow but said it’s “common.”
“Health care providers in the north are accustomed to the virtual care model, which includes utilizing phone and/or video as required, and this is common practice in many of our smaller communities,” Pidborochynski told True North FM.
Without a doctor present in-person, nurses and medical staff are consulting with doctors using a “virtual care model.”
Last week, the Hay River Health Authority announced that there would be no doctor in their emergency department until May 2.
“This ongoing national and territorial staffing shortage continues to impact local health services,” the Hay River Health and Social Services Authority announced on Facebook on April 24.
They announced that in place of a doctor they would have two Nurse Practitioners in the community to support Medical Clinic operations.
The organization explained that they are working hard to fill gaps by recruiting permanent staff, locums and casual workers.
“Short-term strategies are in place to help reduce staffing risks, while long-term efforts continue to build a more stable workforce,” they said.
Doctor recruitment and contracting across the territories is managed by N.W.T.’s Health and Social Services Authority, which holds all physician contracts for the territory, including for Hay River.
On April 30, N.W.T.’s Health and Social Services Authority announced an increase in pay for locum physician rates which will come into effect on June 1.
“This adjustment aims to provide more consistent and competitive daily rates for the valuable work locums provide and ensure the health and social services system remain competitive and is seen by locums as competitive across the dynamic Canadian market,” said N.W.T.’s Health and Social Services Authority in an April 30 announcement.
