New family physician now practising in Slave Lake

SLAVE LAKE – Local residents have increased access to primary care with the arrival of a new family physician now practising in the community.

Dr. Nicholaas Lerm is working out of the Slave Lake Family Care Clinic and Slave Lake Healthcare Centre. His expertise in anesthetics and emergency medicine will enable the healthcare centre to restore a full suite of obstetrical services.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome Dr. Lerm to the community,” says Dr. Firdaus Mydeen, Associate Zone Medical Director in the North Zone for Alberta Health Services (AHS). “We are always working to improve healthcare services to ensure our local care needs continue to be met. As a general practitioner with anesthesia skills, Dr. Lerm is an excellent addition and will bolster our rural surgical and obstetrics programs.”

Dr. Lerm becomes the seventh physician practising in town. He comes to Slave Lake from South Africa, where he received his medical training and completed his residency.

“As a GPA (general practitioner with anesthetic and epidural privileges), I am excited about getting the full obstetric program running again,” Dr. Lerm says. “We have excellent obstetric doctors and nurses here in Slave Lake.”

Avid travellers and outdoor sports enthusiasts, Dr. Lerm and his wife Chandre are looking forward to learning more about their new community by getting involved in local events, sports and charitable organizations.

“Of course, we are looking forward to our first white Christmas,” he says.

AHS continues to recruit for family physicians across northern Alberta to meet community needs.

AHS has physician resource planners who are dedicated to identifying and pursuing international and domestic physician recruitment opportunities. They work closely with various community partners and organizations, such as local Health Advisory Councils, the Rural Health Professions Action Plan, and independent physician recruitment and retention committees.

Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.