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With a review of the culture and conduct of doctors in Regina hospitals on the horizon, the president of the Saskatchewan Medical Association has some hopes about how it’ll go.
Earlier this week, the provincial government announced it will bring in two out-of-province doctors to conduct the review in Regina’s hospitals. The review comes in response to concerns about the conduct and culture of doctors in the hospitals, including allegations of racism toward a group of doctors made at the end of last year.
In a letter to the Saskatchewan Medical Association’s members this week, president Dr. Andre Grobler said he appreciates the review and the commitment it shows from the ministry for a safe, healthy and supportive workplace for Regina doctors.
“We hope the review leads to a better understanding of the workplace challenges experienced by Regina physicians and finds opportunities to create a better environment to retain our current physicians and to recruit our future colleagues,” wrote Grobler.
However, he added, the review should also include a broad range of doctors from inside and outside Regina hospitals.
“Workplace challenges experienced within Regina hospitals don’t stop at the hospitals’ doorways,” he wrote.
Grobler said the importance of broadening the scope of the review can’t be overstated, and it would help the review have credibility.
“Without input from a broader selection of physicians, the external review may inadvertently omit important and necessary perspectives, as well as ideas for improvement,” he wrote.
In the letter, Grobler added that he hopes the government will be as transparent as possible in the process and in sharing the results of the review.
“This will demonstrate the government’s commitment to understanding the issues within the Regina physician community, the root causes, and the paths forward to improve the workplace and experience for Regina physicians,” he wrote.
Grobler said in the year he’s been president of the provincial medical association, he’s met with the health minister several times to talk about the concerns he’s heard, and he recently briefed new Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill to discuss the issues, including in the Regina area specifically.
He said the association has also worked closely with the Regina Medical Staff Association, which helped the Saskatchewan Medical Association understand the “breadth and depth” of the issues facing Regina doctors.
The review is expected to be finished in the spring.
