Press Release
Riverside Health Care announces service limitations in the delivery of health care at La Verendrye General Hospital to ensure safe and effective care for the residents of Rainy River District.
Due to physician shortages, there are known periods of time in which hospital anesthesia services may not be available.
As such, Riverside has put in place practices to ensure continued safe care for our patients.
If a patient arrives at the hospital in need of emergency surgical services, during a period where there is no anesthesia coverage, the patient may be transferred to an adjacent community (i.e., Kenora, Dryden, Sioux Lookout, or Thunder Bay) to ensure they receive the care they need.
Further, obstetrical patients who likely are in need of C-section, or those identified as a high-risk pregnancy, may be transferred to larger centres for potential delivery.
Riverside has been facing challenges regarding coverage of hospital anesthesia services at La Verendrye since April, 2016.
Despite extensive efforts to recruit and retain permanent and locum physician assistance for 24-7 coverage, there has been limited success in attracting full-time and stable coverage.
Riverside is working diligently to address this situation, and is committed to finding a solution that meets the needs of the district residents.
It continues to work with multiple stakeholders to resolve this service gap, including (but not limited) to the Riverside Surgical Services Committee, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Northwestern Ontario Anaesthetists, and the Fort Frances Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee.
The North West Local Health Integration Network, Health Force Ontario, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and regional health-service providers are other stakeholders involved.
