Book now, Beaufort Delta told, with health staff shortage on horizon

Beaufort Delta residents should snag primary care appointments at Inuvik’s hospital while they can, the NWT’s health authority said, forecasting a looming staff shortage.

Healthcare workers will run drills to get better at virtual care in the coming weeks, a means of preparing for coming periods when not enough physicians may be around for the hospital to run as normal.

In a news release late last week, the health authority said Inuvik Regional Hospital ideally needs at least nine full-time physicians but has been “well below that level” for the past two years.

“Upcoming scheduled leaves starting in February will further reduce the number of physicians physically present in Inuvik. This creates a greater reliance on temporary coverage and increases the risk of staffing gaps,” the news release stated.

“Inuvik has a small team of physicians, and with its remote location, situations like illness or flight cancellations can quickly leave the community unexpectedly short of critical physician staff.”

The health authority had two key messages for residents.

Number one: book a primary care appointment ASAP if you can.

“Residents across the Beaufort Delta are encouraged to book primary care appointments at Inuvik Regional Hospital in advance – while physician staffing remains stable – to access care sooner and reduce pressure on emergency services,” the health authority stated.

Number two: staff are training up on virtual care on the assumption that if a staffing crisis hits, physicians working from elsewhere might need to step in.

Last summer, some healthcare workers reacted with concern when managers suggested Stanton Territorial Hospital, in Yellowknife, might need to operate for periods with a “virtual ER where no physician is physically present.” (Bosses later said this was only a backup option and not plan A.)

Even so, virtual access to a physician is seen as better than nothing, and is a more common model for patients in smaller, more isolated communities.

“Physician shortages have been a challenge across all jurisdictions, and it is no different in the NWT, making it critical that we continue contingency planning,” the health authority stated last week, saying it had done similar work elsewhere.

“Over the next few weeks, the Inuvik Regional Hospital Emergency Department will carry out mock testing for reduced emergency services. These tests will use physicians working virtually in Inuvik. This helps staff practice procedures and training, with a regular Emergency Department physician still on-site and ready to step in, if needed. Patients will be told if one of these tests is underway when they present for care.

“While we will always strive to achieve staffing levels that allow for in-person care, virtual care options must be available to offer short-term clinical support and improve access to services as an emergency contingency.”

If you have a non-urgent issue, the authority added, you should call 811 to speak with a registered nurse.

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