At least two primary care providers and a doctor have been hired in St. Stephen, according to Horizon Health Network and the municipality.
The community is one of 10 areas promised to get a collaborative care clinic within the first 18 months of a Liberal mandate – which we’re nearly seven months in to.
Deputy Mayor Ghislaine Wheaton confirmed one doctor has also been hired and successfully recruited by the town.
However, there are thousands of people in southwestern New Brunswick waiting to be matched with a primary care provider.
“Since then, we’ve gotten more information about what the province wants to do,” she said during the July 16 Committee of the Whole Meeting. “They gave a really nice update.”
The update was provided by Horizon Health Network – the regional health authority responsible for health care facilities in the region – including its continued widening of access to the Charlotte County Collaborative Wellness Centre on the third floor of the Charlotte County Hospital.
It also said it had hired one respiratory therapist and one social worker as part of ongoing recruitment efforts for the collaborative clinic – which offer much greater continuity of care and promote cooperative efforts of primary health care providers and allied health professionals.
“We appreciate the efforts the town council in St. Stephen has put forward in terms of incentives, and we continue to collaborate on local recruitment and retention strategies to attract health care professionals to the area,” the update from HHN read.
In recent months, the council has brought forward a proactive incentive package, offering money in exchange for time commitments to the community.
Wheaton said she has received calls from individuals who are struggling to get an appointment, but asked people to be patient as the work continues to improve access.
Premier Susan Holt has said she hopes to see every New Brunswicker attached to a clinic by 2029.
“This way, then you have the whole team,” Wheaton said, speaking to the benefits of the collaborative model.
Wheaton explained the clinic will also work with other clinicians in the community – meaning access will also be granted to those patients.
She added she understands it may be difficult to understand the process and many people may feel frustrated by the wait.
“I know if you’re sick and you need a doctor, you’d like to have one now,” she said.
The council has also been engaged in helping the new doctor build roots within the community, according to Coun. Emily Rodas – work she believes is also critical to overall incentive package.
Dr. Wael Saber has been touring the community – seeing what St. Stephen has to offer.
“His wife Amal is also a physician, which is wonderful news,” Rodas said. “She is working with the college [College of Physicians and Surgeons] to try to obtain her license as well.”
Rodas posted to social media about taking the Saber family to the local farmers market, the Border Cafe and the Chocolate Museum.
“ I feel like every other day we’re with the family,” she said. “We connected them to sports … we’ve talked with the high school principal about doing a tour.”
Together, they’ve been able to secure the family – who also has young children – a long-term rental while they get settled.
So, if you meet them in the community, I’ve noticed people stopping by their house and saying, ‘welcome, hi, how are you?’,” she said.
“Just remember they’re also citizens,” she said “Don’t hop into the physician problems right away, but just give them a warm welcome to the community.”
