A March 1 meeting to discuss good medical practice saw several people raising concerns about doctor care, referrals and communication from Alberta Health Services, turning the tide of discussion from its original purpose.
A March 1 meeting to discuss good medical practice saw several people raising concerns about doctor care, referrals and communication from Alberta Health Services, turning the tide of discussion from its original purpose.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) has been holding regional tours, with the town-hall style meeting in St. Paul held to “identify local issues affecting good medical practice in order to help the College deliver relevant programs and services that make sense to Albertans,&” according to Marian Stuffco, CSPA's government relations advisor and host of the evening.
The hour-long meeting was open to members of the public, who were encouraged to ask questions and express concerns about their local healthcare systems. About 35 people attended, including Mayor Glenn Andersen and senior staff at the St. Paul Healthcare Centre. Dr. Trevor Theman, CSPA Accreditation Registrar, took questions and had planned to discuss the regulation of practices among physicians in St. Paul, in order to provide safe medical care to residents.
But when the meeting turned over to allow community members to ask questions, new issues came up. Karlene Kaliszewski immediately expressed her discontent with the St. Paul Healthcare Centre.
“Trying to get a referral is like pulling teeth in St. Paul,&” Kaliszewski said. “I can take my kids and go to Glendon, Bonnyville, Two Hills, or any other hospital, and get treatment almost immediately. But in St. Paul, they almost seem to neglect child healthcare. They're really just terrible. Our children are not cared for properly here.&”
Kaliszewski's sentiment was backed up by a large portion of the gathered crowd. Many others discussed waiting hours upon hours in the emergency room while seemingly less-critical patients were admitted, and a general lack of information regarding healthcare policies and procedures from Alberta Health Services and the Health Advisory Council (HAC).
“It sounds, to me, like communication is the big problem here,&” said Dr. Theman in response. “This isn't something that the CPSA can assist in, but my best recommendation would be to get in touch with town leadership, physicians, and the HAC and discuss having an open meeting, like this one, to express these concerns.&”
Andersen promised that he would take the necessary first steps to arrange such a meeting, and expressed his gratitude for CPSA's tour to St. Paul.
“Although this probably isn't the kind of discussion that you were planning to have, it's impossible to know what our problems are unless we talk about them,&” he said. “It's even worse when the problem is talking itself. We need to communicate between the public and our healthcare providers, and going forward, we will sort out how to do just that.&”
Confusion rears its head every so often as people ask where they can go to access medical services, which physicians are operating in town, and what clinics are offering walk-in appointments.
All the clinics in town are individually operated by whichever doctor or doctors that are in that clinic. The Town of St. Paul manages the St. Paul Wellness Centre, which is the home to three separate physician clinics, as well as other health-related businesses and organizations.
ST. PAUL WELLNESS CENTRE
(run and operated by: Town of St. Paul)
Location: 4801 -39 Street, St. Paul, AB
Home to three separate medical clinics and other businesses:
Associated Medical Centre (Dr. H. Woytiuk, Dr. A. Harmse, Dr. C. Sereda)
Ph: 780-645-4411, Fax: 780-645-4566
Open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Accepting New Patients
No walk-in clinic
Hester A. Gordon Clinic (Dr. H. Gordon)
Ph: 780-645-2990, Fax: 780-645-2986
Open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday (some Fridays may only be open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
Walk-in Clinic on Wednesdays, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
St. Paul Independent Medical Practitioners (Dr. G. Senekal, Dr. N. Botha, Dr. P. Vermeulen)
Ph: 780-645-6000, Fax: 780-6006
Dr. Vermeulen is only physician accepting new patients
No walk-in clinic at this time
OTHER MEDICAL CLINICS IN TOWN
Brindawan Medical Clinic (Dr. I. Ellaurie)
5002 - 51 Street, St. Paul. Ph: 780-645-7878
Accepting new patients, call for appointments
*Dr. Ellaurie is away until March 15
Living Hope Medical Clinic (Dr. I. Amusan, Dr. F. Adebayo)
5010 - 51 Street, St. Paul. Ph: 780-645-3666
Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., call for appointments
Walk-in clinics on Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Accepting new patients
Dr. I. Ahmed - Surgeon
St. Therese Health Centre - By Referral Only
Psychiatry - (Dr. I. Werkman, Dr. N. Mohamed)
St. Therese Health Centre
