Prairie North Health Region CEO David Fan provided an update on physician recruitment during a regular meeting of the PN Regional Health Authority board of directors Dec. 15 in Maidstone.
Dr. Obiora Ajegbo, an Irish-trained obstetrician/gynaecologist, will provide locum coverage in North Battleford, effective Feb. 1, while the Region's other three tetrics/gynaecology specialists in the community take time off to prepare for Royal College exams.
Dr. Johan von Willich, a general surgeon from South Africa, has agreed to provide a six-month locum in Lloydminster effective March 1.
Dr. John van der Merwe, a South African family physician, will be joining the Border City Clinic in Lloydminster after undergoing the new Saskatchewan International Medical Graduate (IMG) assessment process starting in early January.
Dr. Ilse Stander, who has been practicing in Maidstone, will be joining the Border City Clinic in Lloydminster in the New Year.
Dr. Rosemarie Cambridge, a family physician from South Africa, will undergo the IMG assessment process in the New Year and will join her husband Dr. Sean Cambridge who has recently arrived in Meadow Lake.
Renal Dialysis
In response to an inquiry from the board, VP of Integrated Health Services Barbara Jiricka reported the establishment of a satellite renal dialysis unit for Meadow Lake does not appear to be in the offing any time soon. Jiricka advised the priorities for the provincial Chronic Kidney Disease Steering Committee are home hemodialysis, addressing the Yorkton waitlist and standardizing water treatment equipment for home hemodialysis to improve the quality of water for patients in rural Saskatchewan.
