PRA program expected to bring two new docs to Logan Lake — Merritt not currently a candidate for the program
After two years without a family physician, Logan Lakers can soon meet the doc that will be serving their community for at least the next three years.
Berni Easson, IHA health services administrator for Thompson-Cariboo rural, confirmed that at this point in time, one internationally-trained family physician will become a permanent doctor for the community, though when exactly he will start practicing is still to be determined.
A meet-and-greet with the new doctor is scheduled for Feb.12 in the Logan Lake Elementary School’s gymnasium starting at 4:30 p.m.
The news gets even better for Logan Lake as another physician will be assessed by the PRA program, and is earmarked to begin working in the rural community of 2,000 upon completion of the program later this year.
This doctor was recruited via the province’s new Practice Ready Assessment (PRA) pilot program. This initiative involves having established internationally-trained doctors assessed by local physicians before being placed in a rural community in need, with the stipulation they work at least three years in said community upon graduation.
The news gets even better for Logan Lake as another physician will be assessed by the PRA program, and is earmarked to begin working in the rural community of 2,000 upon completion of the program later this year.
Easson said the assessment program for this second doctor begins in May and wraps up in August.
Ministry of Health spokesperson Laura Heinze told the Herald that to date, the Interior Health Authority has not identified Merritt as a community in need of recruits from the PRA program’s spring cohort.
She said IHA would like to have a minimum of two doctors working in Logan Lake. That community was served by a single physician before he closed his practice two years ago.
Ministry of Health spokesperson Laura Heinze told the Herald that to date, the Interior Health Authority has not identified Merritt as a community in need of recruits from the PRA program’s spring cohort.
“At the time that the review of communities for this round took place, Merritt had a sufficient physician capacity and was not identified as high need,” she wrote via email. “As community needs shift, health authorities are able to reassess potential placements for cohorts moving forward.”
Two new family physicians were also recently recruited to Ashcroft via the PRA program.
However, the IHA has told the Herald in the past that Merritt is a high priority for physician recruitment and, prior to this pilot program’s existence, said it was actively seeking multiple new doctors.
Heinze wrote that health authorities review and recommend communities to be part of the PRA program, and communities with practices appropriate for assessing PRA candidates.
The PRA steering and selection committees determine how the positions will be distributed across the health authorities, and the health authorities interview prospective PRA candidates for return of serviced placements.
Two new family physicians were also recently recruited to Ashcroft via the PRA program.
Dr. Amgad Zake and Dr. Debra Obu, successfully completed the practice-ready assessment by the province earlier this month, and will begin working in Ashcroft starting March 1.
