Oxbow selected for Virtual Physician (VP) program
As part of an overall strategy for stabilizing emergency services, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is pleased to launch the new Virtual Physician (VP) program at the Galloway Health Centre in Oxbow beginning August 1.
The VP program provides nursing staff remote access to a physician using the existing infrastructure of HealthLine 811 when no local physician is available to provide emergency department coverage in Oxbow. This will help maintain emergency services while recruitment continues to achieve a full complement of physician resources in the community.
“The SHA is committed to building health-care provider capacity in order to stabilize emergency services and minimize service disruptions,” said Brenda Schwann, Vice President, Integrated Rural Health, Saskatchewan Health Authority. “Innovative initiatives such as the VP program bridge staffing or physician coverage gaps while adequate resources are recruited to maintain safe, sustainable, and accessible emergency care.”
Oxbow is the second location selected to pilot the VP program. Porcupine Plain launched its program in late June and has since fully resumed its emergency department services.
The SHA is working closely with Oxbow community leaders to mitigate any short-term disruptions due to staffing challenges over the summer months, in addition to the launch of the VP program. A new physician is expected to arrive in the community this fall. Local updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Recruiting and retaining health professionals is a top priority for the SHA and the Government of Saskatchewan. Recently, the provincial government announced enhancements to the Rural Physician Incentive Program (RPIP) to help attract more family physicians to rural and northern communities across Saskatchewan. Oxbow is included in this list of targeted communities. The enhanced incentive provides up to $200,000 over five years and the length of the program is increasing from four years to five years.
More information on the enhanced RPIP program, including program eligibility, may be found at saskatchewan.ca/rural-physician-incentive. Expanding the Rural Physician Incentive Program is part of the Government of Saskatchewan's nearly $100 million investment in 2023-24 to support the Health Human Resources Action Plan, which includes several initiatives to recruit, train, incentivize, and retain doctors and other health care professions.
Individuals requiring emergency services should call 9-1-1. Non-urgent health-related questions may be directed to the provincial HealthLine 24/7 by calling 8-1-1. Residents are encouraged to seek routine health-care services during regular clinic hours. The Oxbow Family Medicine Clinic is open Monday to Friday - 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and can be reached at (306) 483-5244.