February 19, 2013
WESTLOCK — Two newly recruited family physicians are now accepting new patients at local medical clinics and providing care at the Westlock Healthcare Centre.
Dr. Noemi Simpson and Dr. Magali Benard are enjoying the early days of their practices having joined the Westlock medical community last month. Dr. Simpson is accepting new patients at the Associate Medical Clinic; Dr. Benard at the Pembina Medical Clinic.
There are now 13 physicians practising in Westlock, including 11 general practitioners, six of which offer additional skills such as anesthesia, surgery or obstetrical services, and two full-time specialists - an anesthesiologist and an orthopedic physician. Westlock also has the support of four specialist physicians from Barrhead that visit the community once a month. The four visiting specialist physicians are a pediatrician, an ophthalmologist, an orthopedic doctor and general surgeon.
“The Alberta Government has been working closely with Alberta Health Services and local community partners to attract and retain physicians to this area,” says Maureen Kubinec, MLA for Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock. “Family care is important to everyone and two new local physicians will help increase our residents’ access to health care.”
AHS has three physician resource planners in the North Zone dedicated to identifying and pursuing international and domestic physician recruitment opportunities. These physician resource planners work closely with various community partners and organizations, such as the Rural Physician Action Plan, Health Advisory Councils, and independent community physician recruitment and retention committees.
Dr. Kevin Worry, Medical Director for the North Zone of AHS, says physician recruitment in areas of high need, such as in rural communities, is a challenge nationwide.
“Recruiting and retaining physicians is not a one-person job,” says Dr. Worry. “It is the joint effort of government, local organizations, educational institutions and community partners. I’d like to especially thank local physicians Dr. Vicci Fourie, Dr. Pamela Coulson and Dr Firdaus Mydeen for the strong role they had in the recruitment of Dr. Simpson and Dr. Benard, along with local residents and community partners for their commitment in helping to ensure that local health care needs continue to be met.”
The arrival of two new family physicians will help provide residents with more local health care options and relieve some of the pressure from the current physicians, Dr. Worry adds.
“Healthcare for individuals and their families often starts with family physicians,” he says. “The arrival of two new physicians will help the overall delivery of care in Westlock.”
Dr. Simpson is from Cape Town, South Africa. She went to medical school at the University of Witwatersand in Johannesburg and completed her residency at the University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town. She and her husband Trevor have a two-year-old son, Eyal. She says they are looking forward to skiing and snowmobiling, and raising their son in Westlock.
Dr. Benard grew up in Vancouver, B.C. She completed her masters in chemistry and medical education at the University of Alberta, and completed her residency at various hospitals and clinics in Edmonton. In her spare time, she enjoys photography, reading, swimming and camping. Dr. Benard says she and her husband are looking forward to meeting new people and living in a close-knit community.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than 3.8 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.
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