Several Alberta municipalities are calling on the provincial government to reconsider the incentives provided to medical professionals, stating that the current system favors short-term locum positions over long-term community care. The Town of Hinton proposed a resolution, backed by the Town of Swan Hills, which garnered 93.7% support at the Alberta Municipalities Conference recently.
Mayor Brian LaBerge of Hinton, situated approximately 285 kilometers west of Edmonton, highlighted that the town has faced 113 emergency department disruptions since January, resulting in a lack of emergency doctors for 120 hours in both Hinton and neighboring Edson.
Locums, who are healthcare professionals that travel across Alberta to fill staffing shortages, are increasingly relied upon, especially in rural areas facing ongoing recruitment challenges. Dr. Jen Ortynski, a family physician in Edmonton, emphasized the appeal of short-term locum positions due to their flexibility and reduced administrative responsibilities compared to long-term care.
Despite the benefits of locum work, concerns were raised about the impact on patients with chronic health issues due to the frequent rotation of short-term physicians. Municipalities have taken steps to address the shortage of physicians, with some offering incentives such as paid rent to attract healthcare professionals to underserved areas.
The province of Alberta has made efforts to enhance rural recruitment, including significant investments in physician recruitment and retention. However, the resolution passed by Alberta Municipalities aims to advocate for provincial support in the form of overhead relief, housing subsidies, and updated billing structures to incentivize permanent rural practice.
While recognizing the importance of locum coverage, Mayor LaBerge stressed the need for a sustainable solution to address the physician shortage, urging collaboration with the provincial government to encourage doctors to opt for long-term private practice over short-term positions.