Three full-time family doctors recruited to Grande Cache in the past three months

New local physician recruitment and retention committee plays key role

GRANDE CACHE — Three full-time family physicians have been recruited to practice in Grande Cache over the past three months, thanks to the efforts of Grande Cache’s Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee, community partners, the Government of Alberta, and Alberta Health Services (AHS).

The three physicians are:

• Dr. Christine Walton (expected to be practicing in Grande Cache by mid-June). Dr. Walton, a Rural Alberta North graduate from the University of Alberta, highlights how much she enjoys the full scope of medicine she can practice in Grande Cache – rural/remote medicine is a challenging and exhilarating field in which to practice.
• Dr. Louise Viviers Fourie, (expected to begin practicing in Grande Cache by the end of July) completed her training in South Africa and is very excited about integrating in to the community of Grande Cache with her husband.
• Dr. Anna Marie van der Berg, (expected to be practicing in Grande Cache by the fall) trained in South Africa as well. Dr. van der Berg and her husband are looking forward to exploring the outdoors and taking advantage of the area with all of the running and hiking trails.

“Recruiting family physicians to northern Alberta requires a team effort, and the Government of Alberta is proud to have worked closely with Alberta Health Services and local residents to bring three doctors to Grande Cache,” says Robin Campbell, Government House Leader, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development and MLA for West Yellowhead. “These doctors will play a vital role in promoting and maintaining the health of Grande Cache residents.”

As part of an overall physician recruitment strategy, AHS has three North Zone physician resource planners who identify and pursue physician recruitment opportunities. They 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, such as the Grand Cache Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee.

Allison Chisholm, AHS Physician Resource Planning Lead for Grande Cache, says the arrival of three family physicians to Grande Cache will help increase local access to primary health care and help support the local medical team.

“This is great news for the community,” Chisolm says. “Without the support of local residents and community partners, the recruitment of these physicians would not have been possible. It is because of the community’s outstanding support that we are seeing an increase in physician recruitment to the Grande Cache area.”

Local residents took the initiative to form the Grande Cache Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee last fall. The committee is comprised of different community members and
representatives, including local elected officials and health care leaders, such AHS staff and Dr. John Gillett, local family physician and AHS Community Medical Director.

“As Grande Cache’s Community Medical Director, Dr. John Gillett has consistently gone above and beyond to maintain quality medical services in our rural/ remote communities,” says Dr. Worry. “Left with the challenge of being the only Emergency Department physician in Grande Cache for several months, Dr. Gillett secured physicians from nearby communities to assist him, while tirelessly working with our partners to recruit new physicians. His passion for and consistent dedication to his community does not go unnoticed - it is a privilege for me to work with Dr. Gillett.”

Louise Krewusik, a local resident and former mayor, currently chairs Grande Cache’s Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee. “We recognized that there was a need to become more involved; to support the efforts of local physicians and AHS,” says Krewusik. “We focus not only on recruitment but retention as well.”

Some of the work the committee has done so far includes putting together Grande Cache information packages to share with physicians and other medical professionals, including nurses, who may be interested in working in Grande Cache. “The committee is always evolving and working on how, as a community, we can we be welcoming and supportive to health care providers,” says Krewusik. “We believe that everyone has something unique to bring to offer.”

Krewusik adds the Grande Cache Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee is always looking to involve more local residents and recruit new members. The committee meets once a month and the next meeting will be held June 12. To find out more about the committee, contact Krewusik at 780-827-1517.

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.

• News release 

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