Tweet
Source: http://www.canada.com/edmontonjourna...4-4bf11718635f
Loss of doctors leaves Albertans open to outbreak
Expert says departure of so many top public health officials should be seen as 'crisis'
Archie McLean, The Edmonton Journal
Published: 1:32 am
EDMONTON - Alberta may be vulnerable to a health crisis with its top three public health staff leaving their jobs, medical experts warn.
One doctor also suggests public health should be arm's length from government in order to reduce political interference.
There are few public health physicians in the province and even fewer with the skills and experience the departing doctors have, their colleagues say.
The three women were among the top doctors in the field and had responsibility for planning much of the public health in the province.
"Losing that many at one time, as far as I'm concerned, could be considered a public health crisis," said Dr. Louis Francescutti, president-elect of the Alberta Public Health Association.
Public health doctors are responsible for keeping entire populations in good health.
Vaccination programs, environmental issues, disease outbreaks and health inspections all fall under their purview. The provincial health office also interacts with federal health agencies.
When they do their jobs well, they tend to fade into the background, said Francescutti.
It is only when there is a public health crisis, like the SARS outbreak in Ontario that claimed lives, that they make the news, he said. "Physicians trained in this area are worth their weight in gold."
But despite their value to the health- care system, Francescutti said they are "chronically underpaid, overworked and underappreciated." They are among the lowest-paid specialists and replacing them may be difficult because medical students aren't flocking to the field.
The Alberta Medical Association posted a letter on its website Wednesday warning of "a gap in public health services" resulting from the physicians leaving. The association urged the government to move quickly to fill the positions and protect the health of Albertans.
Dr. Karen Grimsrud, the acting provincial health officer, Dr. Gloria Keays, the deputy provincial health officer, and Dr. Ameeta Singh, an infectious disease medical consultant, are all leaving their posts in August.
Another senior public health physician left several months ago.
Both Grimsrud and Keays won service awards at the health department's annual general meeting Wednesday.
The three women had expressed concerns about staffing levels and support for the office, one former colleague said Wednesday.
Dr. Richard Long, the provincial medical consultant for tuberculosis who worked closely with the departing physicians, doesn't know all the details, but said they were disappointed with the government's overall support for public health.
"I do know that there were some concerns that the office was not adequately staffed and that the government needed to step up to the plate and support the office."
Long said there's likely more to their ousters than a contract dispute, as Health Minister Ron Liepert suggested. Long said the affair illustrates the need for the provincial health office to be set apart from political concerns.
Liepert said the province couldn't afford to pay their salaries and they will be pursuing opportunities elsewhere. But he said little else and the three doctors have remained silent.
A spokesman said Alberta Health has started an executive search to replace the doctors. Ideally they would like to have the new people in place before the others leave in August.
Premier Ed Stelmach said Albertans have nothing to worry about with the doctors leaving. "I'm very confident that we have the skill sets in the Department of Health to deal with any issues that may come forward, no matter what the situation is," Stelmach said.
Long, an employee with the University of Alberta who works as a contracted consultant with the health department, is leaving the government job July 1.
He said the decision was made before the current resignations.
Long hopes the government will use the current chaos to improve the province health office. He would like to see the establishment of an arm's- length entity, such as the centre for disease control in B.C., which could focus on public health without fear of being politically unpopular.
"Public health has to be at arm's length from government," Long said. "These people have a duty to defend the public good. They may say or advocate for things that maybe are not politically very popular, but they are the right thing to do for the people."
Long said having the provincial health office embedded in the ministry often presents a conflict, since political concerns can clash with public health goals.
amclean@thejournal.canwest.com
Loss of doctors leaves Albertans open to outbreak
Expert says departure of so many top public health officials should be seen as 'crisis'
Archie McLean, The Edmonton Journal
Published: 1:32 am
EDMONTON - Alberta may be vulnerable to a health crisis with its top three public health staff leaving their jobs, medical experts warn.
One doctor also suggests public health should be arm's length from government in order to reduce political interference.
There are few public health physicians in the province and even fewer with the skills and experience the departing doctors have, their colleagues say.
The three women were among the top doctors in the field and had responsibility for planning much of the public health in the province.
"Losing that many at one time, as far as I'm concerned, could be considered a public health crisis," said Dr. Louis Francescutti, president-elect of the Alberta Public Health Association.
Public health doctors are responsible for keeping entire populations in good health.
Vaccination programs, environmental issues, disease outbreaks and health inspections all fall under their purview. The provincial health office also interacts with federal health agencies.
When they do their jobs well, they tend to fade into the background, said Francescutti.
It is only when there is a public health crisis, like the SARS outbreak in Ontario that claimed lives, that they make the news, he said. "Physicians trained in this area are worth their weight in gold."
But despite their value to the health- care system, Francescutti said they are "chronically underpaid, overworked and underappreciated." They are among the lowest-paid specialists and replacing them may be difficult because medical students aren't flocking to the field.
The Alberta Medical Association posted a letter on its website Wednesday warning of "a gap in public health services" resulting from the physicians leaving. The association urged the government to move quickly to fill the positions and protect the health of Albertans.
Dr. Karen Grimsrud, the acting provincial health officer, Dr. Gloria Keays, the deputy provincial health officer, and Dr. Ameeta Singh, an infectious disease medical consultant, are all leaving their posts in August.
Another senior public health physician left several months ago.
Both Grimsrud and Keays won service awards at the health department's annual general meeting Wednesday.
The three women had expressed concerns about staffing levels and support for the office, one former colleague said Wednesday.
Dr. Richard Long, the provincial medical consultant for tuberculosis who worked closely with the departing physicians, doesn't know all the details, but said they were disappointed with the government's overall support for public health.
"I do know that there were some concerns that the office was not adequately staffed and that the government needed to step up to the plate and support the office."
Long said there's likely more to their ousters than a contract dispute, as Health Minister Ron Liepert suggested. Long said the affair illustrates the need for the provincial health office to be set apart from political concerns.
Liepert said the province couldn't afford to pay their salaries and they will be pursuing opportunities elsewhere. But he said little else and the three doctors have remained silent.
A spokesman said Alberta Health has started an executive search to replace the doctors. Ideally they would like to have the new people in place before the others leave in August.
Premier Ed Stelmach said Albertans have nothing to worry about with the doctors leaving. "I'm very confident that we have the skill sets in the Department of Health to deal with any issues that may come forward, no matter what the situation is," Stelmach said.
Long, an employee with the University of Alberta who works as a contracted consultant with the health department, is leaving the government job July 1.
He said the decision was made before the current resignations.
Long hopes the government will use the current chaos to improve the province health office. He would like to see the establishment of an arm's- length entity, such as the centre for disease control in B.C., which could focus on public health without fear of being politically unpopular.
"Public health has to be at arm's length from government," Long said. "These people have a duty to defend the public good. They may say or advocate for things that maybe are not politically very popular, but they are the right thing to do for the people."
Long said having the provincial health office embedded in the ministry often presents a conflict, since political concerns can clash with public health goals.
amclean@thejournal.canwest.com