ST. PAUL – A possible surgical services and obstetrics disruption due to a “lack of anesthetist coverage” may have largely been avoided with a locum now available to provide support at the St. Therese – St. Paul Healthcare Centre.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) had notified hospital stakeholders at the end of May no obstetrics services would be offered during times of no coverage in June, with “imminent deliveries” being managed through the emergency department and transferred out as necessary.
“AHS is working to ensure all expectant parents have the support they need, including having a plan in place where they will safely deliver their babies. Patient safety is of the utmost importance to us, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause,” an AHS memo stated.
However, Mayor Maureen Miller told Lakeland This Week on June 2 that on the heels of the AHS service disruption notice being issued, an agreement had been reached with a locum anesthetist to provide coverage. She believes it is a significant step in alleviating what could have been a concerning scenario.
“The contract was finally signed, which is great for us. I don’t know to the extent of what all that is going to mean. But, when the letter initially came out, we had no anesthesia. I don’t know how they are going to manage all the services around now having some part-time coverage, but it is great news.”
AHS did not provide comment on this latest development prior to press deadline.
Meanwhile, Miller said St. Paul doctor Camir Omoifo, who has been able to provide some anesthetic support since moving to the community a couple of years ago, is now working to complete his training in that specialty this month. She credits him for taking time out of his practice to do so, which the mayor said bodes well in the long term for anesthetic services at the local facility.
“I would like to acknowledge that he took time from his practice to complete his anesthesia assessment. That is a huge, huge boost for our community to have an anesthesiologist living on site.”
UPDATE on June 14
On June 14, Alberta Health Services provided the following statement:
"Anesthetist coverage at the St. Therese – St. Paul Healthcare Centre has now been found from June 10 until June 14 at 5 p.m., as well as June 19 at 8 p.m. until June 25 at 3 p.m.
Additional disruptions may also be cancelled if sufficient coverage is found.
We continue to work closely with alternate healthcare sites to offer additional support to St. Paul patients, as needed."
