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Issue 9
SERVING THE ENERGY CITY SINCE 1903
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
www.estevanmercury.ca
Mailing No. 10769 | Publication No. 40069240
Physician recruitment continues By David Willberg dwillberg@estevanmercury.ca
St. Joseph’s Hospital in Estevan is going to be losing another physician, but that loss is expected to be offset with the scheduled arrival of a new medical doctor. Dr. Michael Ovueni, a family physician who has been in the Energy City since 2013, will be leaving his practice at the Estevan Medical Group, effective the end of July. According to hospital CEO Greg Hoffort, Ovueni has provided a great service to the community since arriving more than six years ago. “ He ’s been with us through one of the physician shortage cycles, and he’s been a doctor who has provided service to a lot of patients.” Hoffort said Ovueni’s departure is for personal reasons, and he will be working in another community. “He practises in a group practice, so if patients desire, they will keep their files in that practice, and see one of the other doctors there. The option is also there that if they find another family physician to transfer files, but we expect some will stay with the clinic.” He expects Ovueni will continue to practice until his departure date. O uvueni’s departure leaves Estevan with 10 family physicians who see patients, and one specialist surgeon, Dr. Khalid Sheikh. Some of the family physicians do have specialities. The physician recruitment committee has been actively trying to bring in new doctors to Estevan, Hoffort said, and he expects there will be a new doctor arriving prior to Ovueni’s departure. He could not release any details about that new doctor as of yet. Despite the departure of Ovueni, and the loss of a couple of other physicians earlier this year, Hoffort said Estevan still isn’t in a physician shortage situation. When they were down to five or six doctors in the community, that was a crisis situation. “We are recruiting. Certainly it’s not a crisis at this point, but we definitely have
a need for additional physicians,” said Hoffort, who would like to see Estevan’s physician count increase by one every six months for the next couple of years. Other physicians having been carrying out short-term and medium-term locums in Estevan and covering for physicians in town, since the physicians can’t work every day. Their top priority would be a physician with anesthesiology skills, and the second priority would be more family physicians. Estevan has been without a permanent anesthesiologist since the departure of Dr. Anthony Davies nearly a year ago. They have been able to fill the gap with locum physicians, and they have more locums scheduled until the end of September, with the exception of a two-week gap in the summer. “It could cause temporary gaps in the provision of emergency surgery, but other than for two weeks during the summer, we’ve got it covered,” said Hoffort. D uring those two weeks, anybody requiring surgery or any high-risk patients will have to be transferred to Regina. “There is an anesthesia shortage right across the country. Some of the locums we used to count on are now unable to come, because their communities are in a shortage. We’re not alone. It doesn’t make it any easier for us. It doesn’t make it any less concerning. But this is a problem that extends far beyond Estevan.” One of the locums provided services to Estevan for about eight months. The hospital is also looking for a physician with obstetrical skills. Dr. Edward Krickan has been serving as Estevan’s gynaecologistobstetrician since the departure of Dr. Ahmad Sawwan earlier this year. “We are definitely appreciative of his efforts in bridging this gap, and we’re also using some locums,” said Hoffort. Krickan has been able to handle the workload of being Estevan’s obstetriciangynecologist in addition to see patients as part of his practice.
White Bear First Nation Dancers Dancers from White Bear First Nations performed at the National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at the Power Dodge Curling Centre. In the end of the program they invited everybody to join them in circle dance. For more on the National Indigenous Peoples Day see Page A3. Photo by Anastsiia Bykhovskaia
Government commits to resurfacing Highway 47 south of Estevan Highway 47 from Estevan’s south city limits to the U.S. border has long been a source of frustration for local residents who have complained about the condition of the highway. But according to a press release from the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, it could soon be receiving a much-needed facelift. The 14-kilometre stretch of highway was included in the 2019 spring tender schedule, which lists more than $50 million worth of highway improvement and safety projects that will be tendered in the next several weeks. Este van MLA L or i Carr, who is also the minister of Highways and Infrastructure, said this project has been a long time coming. “That road has been in quite the state for a few years, so I think this repaving will be completely welcome by the people who live out there
Lori Carr and by the people who use the recreational facilities in that area also,” she said. Motorists who cross into Canada from the U.S. should also be pleased to see the resurfacing take place. The roads in North Dakota are very good, she said, but many in Saskatchewan aren’t at quite the same shape. “It will be really nice to have this new surface for
them,” said Carr. She hopes all of the crushing and material will be prepped this year, and then the resurfacing can begin in the 2020 construction season. “If we get the tender done and the bid out and everything, then whoever gets the job will be able to prepare for that job by doing all of crushing ahead of time in the winter,” said Carr. A portion of Highway 47 between Estevan and the U.S. border was shifted in 2004 to accommodate coal mining that was happening in the area. That stretch of highway was constructed over reclaimed land. Carr admits the highway hasn’t been in good shape since that time. There have been issues with settling because it was constructed overtop of reclaimed land. “I think that’s the reason the road is in the condi-
tion it is now is because of that settling. So they are fully aware of that, and they have done some geotechnical in that area, and we’re truly hoping that when the road is resurfaced this time, that they ensure the proper base and everything gets put down and that we have a nice, level driving surface going forward.” The geotechnical work and the engineering work should result in a good road surface moving forward. Carr said she has received quite a few comments regarding that road, and she believes many of them are from people who use Highway 47 to access the Boundary Dam Recreation Site inside Woodlawn Regional Park. “They take their campers out there for camping on a regular basis, and the roadway does concern them. They have reduced speed limits in A2 » RESURFACING
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