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Heated dispute over Health P.E.I. benchmarks for family doctors heading for mediation
Heated dispute over Health P.E.I. benchmarks for family doctors heading for mediation

CBC

time7 days ago

  • Health
  • CBC

Heated dispute over Health P.E.I. benchmarks for family doctors heading for mediation

Three of the biggest players in Prince Edward Island's health-care system have agreed to begin a mediation process regarding how many patients family doctors can and should handle. In a joint news release late Tuesday, the Medical Society of P.E.I., along with the Department of Health and Wellness and Health P.E.I. said they've been having "meaningful and constructive" conversations "over the past number of days" about a controversial side document to the latest Physician Services Agreement. "While the mediation process unfolds, government, Health P.E.I. and [the society] will work together so Islanders will continue to gain access to primary care services — including those who are currently on the patient registry," the joint statement from the group said. "The proposed key performance indicators will be paused until resolved through mediation. All parties have also agreed to an interim patient affiliation plan. This ensures continuity of care and reinforces our shared commitment of improving access for all Islanders." Over the last six weeks, doctors represented by the medical society have been crying foul over Health P.E.I.'s new operational guide. That document includes key performance indicators, or KPIs, that set out a requirement that each family doctor see 24 patients a day, based on an average appointment being 15 minutes long. Standoff between P.E.I. family doctors and the province has physicians elsewhere in Canada watching 1 month ago Health P.E.I. also wanted a full-time family physician to have 1,600 people on their roster, although CEO Melanie Fraser later insisted that was a maximum number, not a minimum as the society understood the phrasing. Supported by the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the medical society even threatened legal action. Among other things, they said they had been sidelined from discussions about the new benchmarks, the targets were unachievable without hurting patient care, and the 1,600-patient goal would drive family doctors from the Island just months after the three parties had celebrated signing a new Physician Services Agreement. That agreement — basically, the doctors' contract with the province — had boosted the pay of general practitioners and made family medicine a medical specialty. Dr. Krista Cassell, the president of the Medical Society of P.E.I., had called it "transformational" and "the best in the country." However, that agreement had left some issues to be negotiated later, including benchmarks for what success would look like. "A key pillar of this agreement is the shared understanding and commitment that accountability must exist at every level of the health-care system," Tuesday's statement said. "All parties anticipate that successful mediation will lead to clarity around the development and implementation of KPIs and their associated benchmarks." Changes are coming to P.E.I.'s patient registry. What will they mean if you're waiting for a doctor? 9 months ago Health P.E.I. CEO Melanie Fraser is overseeing some shifts in how people will get medical care on the Island. She says medical homes and neighbourhoods are becoming easier to set up, the number of steps involved in recruiting doctors has been slashed — and some changes are coming to how P.E.I.'s patient registry will work. The stakes are high. The province's patient registry, last updated on July 2, says 35,524 people on Prince Edward Island do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner to manage their health care as a primary provider. The provincial government is pinning its hopes on setting up a number of new medical homes and neighbourhoods — organizational structures that include doctors, nurse practitioners and other health practitioners to triage what kind of professional a person needs to see for a particular problem. More people could be affiliated with such a medical home than an individual practice could handle. Health P.E.I. has long said this would encourage doctors to settle in the province by supporting them and cutting down on burnout. "All parties agree to put forward our collective best efforts to continue to help position P.E.I. as a nationally competitive and attractive place to practise medicine so we can continue to recruit new longitudinal family physicians to P.E.I.," Tuesday's statement said. Why some family doctors believe new Health P.E.I. targets will drive physicians away 28 days ago Family doctors on P.E.I. are worried about physician burnout and the quality of care they can provide. Health P.E.I. is proposing doctors should have at least 1,600 patients, and see 24 of them every day. Two family doctors, including Dr. Jeannette Verleun, weigh in about their fears and how they think the changes might impact Islanders. CBC's Connor Lamont reports. As recently as Monday, representatives from the Medical Society had been scheduled to appear at Wednesday morning meeting of the legislative standing committee on health and social development to talk about its concerns. By mid-afternoon on Tuesday, that appearance had been cancelled, although Health P.E.I.'s Fraser is still set to talk to the same MLAs on Wednesday afternoon about "the key performance indicators feedback process, as well as strategic plans for retaining and recruiting doctors."

PCH cancer patients must go to Charlottetown for treatment until July 10, says Health P.E.I.
PCH cancer patients must go to Charlottetown for treatment until July 10, says Health P.E.I.

CBC

time14-07-2025

  • Health
  • CBC

PCH cancer patients must go to Charlottetown for treatment until July 10, says Health P.E.I.

Cancer patients who usually get treatment in Summerside will have to travel to P.E.I.'s capital over the next several days, while those who need a medical oncologist will need to go to Charlottetown until August. The oncology department at Summerside's Prince County Hospital is short-staffed, said Health P.E.I., so patients receiving chemotherapy will be treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital from now until July 10. The agency said in a statement that no treatment schedules have been interrupted because of the shortage, and that patients who require transportation and other support can pay upfront and apply to PCH for reimbursement. Heather Mulligan, senior manager of advocacy for Atlantic Canada with the Canadian Cancer Society, said disruptions like this can cause an extra burden on patients and their families. With lengthy travel to appointments becoming more common across the country, she said things like gas, food and sometimes overnight accommodations can add up. "Any amount of travel puts a significant burden, not only on our patients, but [on] their loved ones, their caregivers who are accompanying them for their care," Mulligan said. "Whether it be for a couple of days, couple of weeks, couple of months, [it] is quite a significant burden, not only in terms of the emotional toll that it takes on a patient, but also the financial impact that it has on a family." Patients who need to see a medical oncologist — a doctor who specializes in diagnosing cancer and prescribing treatments — will also have to travel to the Charlottetown hospital "until the end of August (or sooner)," Health P.E.I. said. There are two-full time oncologists at the QEH who also provide part-time coverage at Prince County Hospital. There will be periods of time when only one of those oncologists is available, so the service will have to be provided in Charlottetown. "To support this temporary operational shift, some nursing staff from PCH will be reassigned to QEH. Reassignment of nursing staff is guided by the [P.E.I. Nurses Union] collective agreement, which includes provisions for travel pay and compensation," Health P.E.I. said in a statement. "In mid-September, a third full-time medical oncologist will join the team at the QEH Cancer Treatment Centre, increasing the complement of specialists and enhancing service capacity." Unexpected side effects The cancer society is calling on the P.E.I. government to offer a refundable tax credit for Islanders who are providing practical support to loved ones undergoing treatment. Mulligan said a recent study the organization conducted in conjunction with Statistics Canada showed the average cancer patient and their family will shoulder more than $30,000 in out-of-pocket expenses over the course of their treatment. That can lead to unfortunate consequences, she said. "For some patients, it [means] taking on debt, and that's the number-one side effect of cancer that no one expects," Mulligan said.

AC delays at Island long-term care homes continue
AC delays at Island long-term care homes continue

Yahoo

time07-07-2025

  • Climate
  • Yahoo

AC delays at Island long-term care homes continue

Residents at many of the Island's public long-term care facilities could be in for a warm summer as delays in getting air conditioning set up continue. Andrew MacDougall, the executive director of seniors care with Health PEI, says finding companies to do the installation work has been more difficult than expected. The province put out tenders to install cooling units at seven facilities back in November. Two newer long-term care locations on the Island are already equipped with air conditioning. MacDougall said contracts have been awarded for four homes — Summerset Manor, Wedgewood Manor, Prince Edward Home and Beach Grove Home — and new tenders have been issued for the remaining facilities. The province is now in the process of scheduling the work, though MacDougall said none of the AC units are installed yet. "The reality is it's been a complicated procurement process," he said. "I think everyone's well aware that Prince Edward Island's a booming place. There's lots of construction, lots of industry going on, and it's been challenging to get market response to the tenders that we put out." He said changes in standards for the types of coolants used in the units have also contributed in part to the delays. In the meantime, MacDougall said there's no "one magic solution" but the province has been installing portable AC units and fans in the facilities, which are also cutting back on the use of what he called "heat-inducing equipment" like ovens and dishwashers. He said staff are keeping a close eye on residents to make sure they're properly hydrated. "We didn't want to be here right now having this kind of conversation when we started this process earlier," he said. "We are here, but we are prepared as well and we're responding." MacDougall said the time frame for getting the cooling units installed varies from facility to facility and will depend in part on when contractors are available. Residents, staff struggle with lack of AC With the Island having dealt with recent heat warnings and humidex values reaching the high 30s, one staff member at a long-term care facility said there is an urgent need for cooling. "It is pretty miserable on the hot days, especially," said Jeleasa O'Connor, a resident care worker at the Prince Edward Home. "On the really hot days, it's affecting us. We're having to take more breaks, definitely getting more water in, more people complaining of headaches and migraines." She said staff have been taking care to make certain residents are hydrated and cool. She added that while there are heat pumps in the facility, their range is small. And residents who have their own portable ACs end up staying in their rooms where things are most comfortable. O'Connor said she expects morale will improve once the facility is properly outfitted. "The heat makes everybody grumpy, staff and residents," she said.

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