Long-distance house call

Patients requiring specialized eye care here will be able to eliminate some of the costly—and in some cases dangerous—travelling associated with the diagnosis and treatment of their conditions now that a new doctor is in the house.
Dr. Rash Nigam, an opthamologist from Winnipeg, will be making the trip to Fort Frances at least three times of year to visit patients requiring diagnosis and treatment of cataracts, glaucoma, and other related problems.
“It’s kinda like a long-distance house call,” she said last Friday during her inaugural visit here. “It’s the first time I’ve come out to a new community.”
Dr. Nigam, who has been a practising opthamologist for seven years, feels the new service is a good way of building a rapport with patients.
“It’s kind of reassuring to patients to know who I am,” she remarked. “I’ve been seeing a lot of patients referred from this group [in Fort Frances]. A good number of my patients come from this area.”
While in Fort Frances, Dr. Nigam will be setting up shop in the office of Lidkea, Elliott, Lidkea Optometrists on Scott Street.
“It’s not exclusive to us,” stressed Dr. Bruce Lidkea. “This is a community service.
“It gives the community access to another specialist that couldn’t practice full-time here,” he continued. “But there’s a definite need here in the community.”
Dr. Lidkea emphasized the service is about more than letting patients get to know their doctor better. It simply will be more convenient—and less costly.
“It represents 40 travel grants that don’t have to be paid,” he said, noting it should save people about 40 trips to Winnipeg and other centres for diagnosis and treatment in a year—saving the provincial government money.
“It’s easier to bring her [Dr. Nigam] here than send 40 people to Winnipeg,” he reasoned.
“I think it’s easier for some of the patients,” Dr. Nigam agreed. “Eye problems are more typically in the older community. [My being here means they] don’t have to make the trip.”
The trial program is partially funded through the under-serviced area program, said Dr. Lidkea. “We’re partnering with Riverside Health Care [Facilities, Inc.],” he noted. “There is some grant money.”
“It’s sort of a trial run. I will make the trip spring, summer and fall,” Dr. Nigam added, half-joking that she isn’t keen on making a trip here during the winter.
The idea of having the program was borne out of necessity—and frustration.
“It was me being frustrated that there is no local opthamology program,” Dr. Lidkea said of what prompted the trial project. “She was the top of the list.”
“Bruce called and expressed a need in this area,” Dr. Nigam confirmed, adding the timing was right. “I’ve been busy having kids for the last three years.”
Dr. Lidkea feels it will be a well-used program. “Everybody eventually has eye problems,” he reasoned. “If you live long enough, you’ll need to see her.”
But that isn’t as easy as making an appointment with Dr. Nigam. Dr. Lidkea said the only way to see the eye specialist is to be referred either by your local optometrist or physician.