St. Joseph’s Hospital has released the details on how it will handle anesthesiology services in the coming weeks.
Estevan’s lone practising anesthesiologist, Dr. Anthony Davies, wrapped up his local clinic on Monday. Davies is relocating to Ontario.
Since that time, anesthesiology coverage in Estevan has been taken care of through a locum service.
“We have made an arrangement with a group of anesthesiologists out of Prince Albert who, on a rotating basis, are going to cover us into the foreseeable future,” said Greg Hoffort, the CEO at the hospital.
Four physicians will be providing service on an alternating basis.
There will not be a reduction or an interruption of services, he said.
“An interruption of anesthesiology services would be an interruption of obstetric service and an interruption of surgical services, so it’s critical to our operation,” said Hoffort. “We’re very pleased that we’ve been able to make arrangements with a group of anesthesiologists to cover us into the future.”
The hospital is in discussions with another anesthesiologist to temporarily provide services, starting in September.
“It is by a physician who has recently performed locum for us, who is interested in coming here, potentially, for a longer period of time,” said Hoffort. “Right now we’re just starting discussions with him, and it looks positive he will be starting in the fall.”
Hoffort also announced that Dr. Mehdi Horri will resume a family practice at the hospital foundation’s clinic, starting on June 25. Horri has been unable to practise medicine in Saskatchewan since June 16, 2017, when the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons revoked his certificate of registration, stemming from an act of misconduct that happened when he was practising in Ontario.
But he has been practising in Ontario since July of last year, even though that is where the misconduct took place.
Hoffort said Horri is eager to resume his practice in Estevan.
Horri was practising as an anesthesiologist in Estevan before his Saskatchewan certificate was revoked, but Hoffort said the college has not restored his licence for anesthesiology as of yet.
“He will just be focusing on family medicine,” said Hoffort.
The return of Horri to Estevan’s roster of physicians, and the departure of Davies, means that Estevan still has 10 family physicians and two specialists. One of those specialists also sees some patients.
The hospital is now working on recruiting a permanent anesthesiologist, in addition to its other recruiting efforts.
“We’ve advertised right around the world recently,” said Hoffort. “We are doing just about everything we can. We’re pleased that we have the coverage arranged, we’re pleased that we have some talks going for some potential longer-term solutions, and we’re doing what is necessary to maintain the coverage.”
