Northern Health is working closely with the physician communities in Terrace and Kitimat to find solutions to ensure the stability of primary care and emergency department coverage at both Mills Memorial and Kitimat General hospitals.
Northern Health has confirmed that five new physicians are expected to move to the Terrace area by November of this year, followed by an additional five new family physicians and four new specialists in 2024.
Several incentives and supports have been implemented to support recruitment and retention in the Northwest, including transitional housing for physicians and staff. Active work is underway in both communities to improve access to daycare for health care professionals. Northern Health is also looking at ways to stabilize and increase capacity for seniors care to reduce the burden on family practitioners and hospital resources, and recruiting nurse practitioners to work with family practitioners in local practice. In both communities, Northern Health is partnering with the community to develop additional collaborative solutions.
According to a Northern Health statement, the organization is “optimistic” the new collective agreement reached with the Nurses’ Bargaining Association will have a positive impact in the North, along with investments in improving staff recruitment and retention under BC’s health human resources strategy that will help us add and keep the staff required.
Efforts are being made to prevent emergency department and critical care service interruptions. The ER in Terrace may at times have single-physician coverage during the summer months, compared to double-coverage that is normally in place, which may impact wait times. Northern Health plan for any potential referrals or transfers for care elsewhere in the NH region or to other health authorities based on their care needs.
