What are the issues facing doctors in the province? The Saskatchewan Medical Association鈥檚 (SMA) President鈥檚 Tour sees the organization going across the province to meet with doctors and see what their issues are and discuss how they can address them.
Dr. Barb Konstantynowicz, SMA Vice-President, was in Yorkton at Manos for the local stop in the tour. The goal of the tour is to connect with doctors, to ensure that doctors have the chance to tell the SMA what their issues connect to the larger organization.
One major concern for doctors is bylaws, stemming from the move to a single health authority. The main question is the rules for how physicians can operate in different areas. When there were multiple regions, Konstantynowicz explained, physicians would have to ask for privileges in another region in order to work there. Right now, they don鈥檛 know how that will unfold.
鈥淚f a surgeon has privileges in P.A. or Yorkton, does that mean they would also have privileges somewhere else, how does that all unfold?鈥�
Another big issue for physicians is wellness. While often associated with 鈥榖urnout鈥�, keeping physicians well in the province is a goal of the SMA. Konstantynowicz adds that another part of the burnout issue is doctors working without feeling they have a say in what is happening in the system, and the SMA wants to give doctors a voice to allow them to improve the system around them.
鈥淧hysicians are really looking for an opportunity to help the system improve. We鈥檙e growing many leaders.鈥�
Other concerns for doctors are very similar to the concerns their patients will have, said Konstantynowicz. Doctors are worried about patient access to specialty care and mental health providers, they鈥檙e concerned about having enough family doctors, and they鈥檙e concerned what will happen as doctors age and retire. A real concern is patients with chronic conditions. She notes that without someone guiding, supporting, encouraging, and monitoring, people with chronic conditions can fall through the cracks, and physicians don鈥檛 want to see that happen.
鈥淲e worry about human resources, and being able to be there for the people of Saskatchewan. It鈥檚 our communities. Having been born and raised in Saskatchewan, this is my home, I want to make sure what we do allows it to be sustained,鈥� Konstantynowicz said.
The tour has been the source of good discussions with doctors in local communities. They are committed to bringing concerns forward, said Konstantynowicz, and they鈥檙e glad that the physicians of the province have been open and willing to talk about what their worries are.
