Rural B.C. E.R.s close.

[JLM]

We have a problem with a doctor shortage here in rural communities, sometimes necessitating the closure of Emergency Room for several hours each day or for several days a week. I see what I think could be a solution to the problem, but of course I am not aware of all the ramifications so am just asking what posters think about making it mandatory for a doctor to serve in an area where needed for the first three years after getting his/her doctoring papers. Is this reasonable? Will it work?

 

[Cliffy]

We have a problem with a doctor shortage here in rural communities, sometimes necessitating the closure of Emergency Room for several hours each day or for several days a week. I see what I think could be a solution to the problem, but of course I am not aware of all the ramifications so am just asking what posters think about making it mandatory for a doctor to serve in an area where needed for the first three years after getting his/her doctoring papers. Is this reasonable? Will it work?

That is what is required of most doctors immigrating here from other countries whose standards are compatible with ours. There are planty of doctors from other countries who cannot practice here because the government is slack at processing them into the system. Many are flipping burgers for years waiting to be allowed to practice.

 

[JLM]

That is what is required of most doctors immigrating here from other countries whose standards are compatible with ours. There are planty of doctors from other countries who cannot practice here because the government is slack at processing them into the system. Many are flipping burgers for years waiting to be allowed to practice.

There could be an upside to that too, Cliffy. They'd be right handy for when some one starts choking on a Big Mac or contracts ecoli or salmonella poisoning.

 

[TenPenny]

It certainly will help to supply other provinces with doctors.

 

[JLM]

It certainly will help to supply other provinces with doctors.

They should always serve in the place with greatest need, but if such a procedure were adopted I'm sure the need would be greatly reduced all over. If Vancouver is 10 doctors short, it's not near the disaster that a town like Princeton suffers when it's two doctors short.

 

[bill barilko]

That is what is required of most doctors immigrating here from other countries whose standards are compatible with ours.

Yes and as soon as their time is up they get the hell out-and who can blame them?

Who the hell wants to spend the rest of their professional life rotting away in the frozen bush?

There are planty of doctors from other countries who cannot practice here because the government is slack at processing them into the system. Many are flipping burgers for years waiting to be allowed to practice.

I hope you're speaking metaphorically-the ex-MDs I know from India & South Africa are doing quite well in IT-they are educated professional people not low brow burger flipping knuckledraggers.

 

[Cliffy]

Yes and as soon as their time is up they get the hell out-and who can blame them?

Who the hell wants to spend the rest of their professional life rotting away in the frozen bush?


I hope you're speaking metaphorically-the ex-MDs I know from India & South Africa are doing quite well in IT-they are educated professional people not low brow burger flipping knuckledraggers.

That's pretty bigoted. There a lot of degrees flipping burgers for lack of better work.

 

[bill barilko]

There a lot of degrees flipping burgers for lack of better work.

Maybe where you live but not where there's economic activity of any strength.

 

[damngrumpy]

The last time I heard Canadians subsidize the medical training of Doctors in
this country. We could sweeten the pot by assisting even more financially.
In exchange we would expect these people to operate in rural areas for three
to five years. In some cases they may stay. The other thing we could do is
make it easier for immigrant doctors who a qualified to get established and
in turn this would create some serious competition for licencing.

 

[TenPenny]

The last time I heard Canadians subsidize the medical training of Doctors in
this country. We could sweeten the pot by assisting even more financially.
In exchange we would expect these people to operate in rural areas for three
to five years. In some cases they may stay. The other thing we could do is
make it easier for immigrant doctors who a qualified to get established and
in turn this would create some serious competition for licencing.

Canada subsidizes ALL university Degrees.

 

[L Gilbert]

I can understand that certification to Canadian standards is quite important, but according to the link referencing a study (posted below), only half fail certification and the author of the study admits that there are obstacles that immigrant physicians encounter.

http://www.canadaupdates.com/content/foreign-doctors-canada-fail-certification-exams-15778.html

There's also this: http://reviewcanada.ca/essays/2011/02/01/taxi-driver-syndrome/

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Yes and as soon as their time is up they get the hell out-and who can blame them?

Who the hell wants to spend the rest of their professional life rotting away in the frozen bush?

Some actually take to that way of life and the community and stay.

 

[JLM]

Some actually take to that way of life and the community and stay.

Yep, the sane ones do!