Estevan is back in the market for an obstetrician-gynecologist.
Dr. Ahmad Sawwan, who came to St. Joseph’s Hospital in 2017, is leaving the community. St. Joseph’s Hospital executive director Greg Hoffort confirmed Sawwan’s departure in an interview with the Mercury last week.
His final day is April 30, and he will be providing service up until that date, although a message at his office said Sawwan’s clinic would be closed from March 18-22.
Hoffort said the hospital was surprised to find out Sawwan was leaving.
“When we recruit new physicians, we’re certainly hopeful that Estevan becomes home, and they make a career here, but we have also learned, and we accept the fact that many of our physicians move on to different opportunities, and for a number of reasons,” said Hoffort.
He does not know where Sawwan is going, and Sawwan did not reveal a reason for his departure. Sawwan could not be reached for comment.
“When he came, he initially agreed to two years, and he’s completed that,” said Hoffort.
In the meantime, the hospital has developed plans for his departure and to fill some of the gap created by his departure.
“Although we are very sorry to see him leave, we do have plans in place to ensure coverage of the obstetrical piece,” said Hoffort.
Obstetrical calls are currently handled by Sawwan and Dr. Edward Krickan. Krickan will continue to handle obstetrical services, and the hospital could also have some locum physicians.
“We’re recruiting for his (Sawwan’s) replacement, for someone who can maybe handle the other end of the obstetrical coverage in Estevan,” said Hoffort.
Several physicians are interested in providing the locum services on a short-term or medium-term basis for Estevan to support Krickan.
“We certainly can’t have him on-call 365 days per year,” said Hoffort.
Krickan will also continue to see patients while handling obstetric duties.
A few pieces that have to be ironed out will be announced in the coming weeks, Hoffort said. Some locums will be doing one week a month, while others will provide itinerant solutions.
“We are confident that we will find a replacement to the services Dr. Sawwan provides in regards to obstetrical services,” said Hoffort.
Hoffort pointed out that other family physicians in Estevan are capable of delivering babies, but Sawwan and Krickan are capable of performing C-sections.
Another piece of the puzzle is the anesthesiology service. Estevan has been without a permanent anesthesiologist since Dr. Anthony Davies left last June. A locum physician has been handling that task.
“We have several irons in the fire, but we don’t have anything concrete to announce there yet as far as the long-term future of anesthesia services,” said Hoffort.
The anesthesia services are critical to obstetrics because of their role in C-sections.
Discussions are ongoing to bring an anesthesiologist to Estevan on a more permanent basis, and the goal is to have two physicians who provide that service.
“The team effort is going to yield some success, it’s just that we don’t have that permanent solution in place yet,” said Hoffort.
Prior to Sawwan’s arrival, Estevan was without the services of an obstetrician-gynecologist for about five months. Most of the expectant mothers in the region had to go elsewhere for deliveries, and other services were also delivered outside of the city.
“We had no other physician that did C-section services in Estevan, so what that does, when you have a gap like that, then any at-risk or first deliveries or complicated deliveries, we advise and send to them in Regina,” said Hoffort.
Krickan came after Sawwan, providing Estevan with another capable obstetrician. There won’t be the shortage in obstetrics like there was in late 2016 and early 2017.
The hospital is advertising for Sawwan’s replacement throughout the country. Hoffort pointed out the hospital has been successful in the past when recruiting, but it’s the retention that needs some work.
