Duane Hicks
The Northwestern Heath Unit’s search for a medical officer of health to replace Dr. Pete Sarsfield may be nearing its end, with the board waiting to see if a new doctor will take on the mantle in the near future.
Fort Frances Coun. John Albanese, who chairs the board of health, said Monday they are close to inking a deal with Dr. James Arthur, a U.S. doctor who wants the job and already has moved to Kenora in anticipation of starting.
But Coun. Albanese explained that because he’s from the States, Dr. Arthur is waiting on paperwork before he officially can take the job.
“We’re waiting for the blessing of the College of Physicians so he can start working for the Northwestern Health Unit,” said Coun. Albanese. “We’re hoping by January, we can splash it all over the news and say the Northwestern Health Unit has a new MOH on board.”
Coun. Albanese said the new MOH’s job will be strictly that—and that he/she will not have a dual role as chief executive officer (CEO) as Dr. Sarsfield did.
After Dr. Sarsfield’s retirement last year, Mark Perrault became acting chief administrative officer (CAO). After some restructuring of management teams by the health unit’s board, it decided to make the two roles separate and distinct, with Perrault continuing to be permanent CAO and the new MOH sticking to that sole role.
This way, the MOH can concentrate on the public health issues in the catchment area while the CAO can tend to the administrative affairs of the health unit’s 14 offices, explained Coun. Albanese.
Dr. Nancy Cameron, formerly of the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, currently is the local health unit’s acting MOH.
“We are keeping her even after we hire Dr. Arthur,” said Coun. Albanese. “Even after he gets his papers, we’ll need someone to guide him, to show him the ropes. He’s an American and it’s a little different here.
“[Dr. Arthur] is a very nice gentleman, and eager to start working, but so far he needs the blessing of the College of Physicians.”
Dr. Sarsfield retired from the health unit last year. The health unit came close to finding a replacement for him after Dr. Monika Dutt accepted the board’s offer of employment as its new medical officer of health and chief executive officer last December.
But then she withdrew her application for the position in mid-May after a disagreement with the board.
The health unit’s plight to find a new medical officer of health is not a unique story. The province’s acting chief medical officer, Dr. David Williams, said last Thursday in his annual report that, as of Sept. 1, 13 of the province’s 36 public health units didn’t have a permanent medical officer of health (MOH).
In his report, Dr. Williams said there are several factors contributing to the problem, including the fact many doctors don’t want to pursue careers in public health, the pay here isn’t enough to entice physicians to public health work, and there also are “wide variations” in salaries among neighbouring health units, according to The Canadian Press.
Albanese agreed with Dr. Williams’ assessment that too few doctors want to enter the public health field.
“There must be a good reason,” he said. “Thirteen health units don’t have a MOH, and six health units don’t even have an associate medical officer of health position, which tells you they’re hard to come by.
“When we started advertising, we went from the east to the west coast. We were lucky to have Dr. Arthur answer our calls,” Coun. Albanese remarked.
The Canadian Press reported Health minister David Caplan said last week that the public health vacancies are a problem and have been for some time, but pointed out a recent contract with Ontario doctors which gives them a 12.25 percent pay hike over four years may help in attracting more candidates.
That agreement includes a joint commitment by the Ontario Medical Association and health ministry to draft a new salary structure for public health physicians.
The other 12 public health units with vacant medical officer of health positions filled by acting officers include those in Chatham-Kent, Eastern Ontario, Elgin-St. Thomas, Haldimand-Norfolk, Huron County, Lambton, Oxford County, Perth District, Porcupine, Thunder Bay, Timiskaming, and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph.
Ironically, Dr. Williams also is an acting medical officer of health—the province itself has been without a permanent medical office of health since Dr. Sheela Basrur, who has since passed away, resigned in 2006.
