New Laurentians health clinic sits empty, waiting for doctor

A new health co-operative in the same building as a new seniors home in Montcalm, in the Laurentians, sits empty a year after it opened, while the project leaders wait for the province to confirm if they will get a doctor.

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Habitations Stephen Jake Beavenwasbuilt to cater to the needs of anglophoneseniors looking for low-costapartments.

Stephen Andrew, the treasurer for the residence as well asthe health co-operative, said akey partof the project was to includea health clinicso they could attract a family doctor tothearea.

He said the regional health authority has been aware of theproject for more than half a decade.

"Everyone seemed very positive, and we saw the then-director of the Saint-Jrme agency," Andrew said.

"His words to us were, 'You build it, the clinic. And we will help you make it operate.'"

Andrew acknowledges that this was not a written commitment. But now, ayear after the clinic was built, the space is empty while they wait for word from the province on a new doctor.

Doctors wanted

Alain Paquette, aspokesperson for the regional health board that serves the Laurentians, said they know there is a "crying need" for more doctors in the area.

The Statistics Canada 2011census counted more than 25,000people living the greaterMont-Tremblantarea alone.

Currently, there areabout 10 family doctors paid by the provincial health insurance agency, RAMQ,working inMont-Tremblantand Huberdeau. Most of them work a few days per week or month in the area.

Guy Rondeau is the only doctor working between Mont-Tremblant and Lachute. Hesees about750 patients, 500 of whom are elderly withmultipleillnesses at his office in Huberdeau.

He is 85yearsoldand has no immediate plans to retire.

"I really feel that if I leave them, they'll have lots of trouble," Rondeau said. He and hiswife arealso members of the co-op inMontcalm.

"It's not easy to leave when you have patients you've had for 50 years, and they got old with you," Rondeau says.

Rondeau said it's hard to persuadenew doctors to work on their own where they have more expenses and less revenue than working in a group. He said the provincial health minister doesn't support doctors working alone, either.

"The problem is actually the government, the RAMQour dear Mr.Barrettedon't want to have any more solos. They want to have factories with many doctors and services," Rondeau said.

Small towns,hospitals compete for doctors

BertrandBissonnetteis thechief of the regional general medicine department in the Laurentians.

The Ministry of Health creates doctor positions, and Bissonnette allocates where thosefamily doctor positions goin the region.

He said there are many competing demands for doctors between small towns and six hospitals.

"It's not like regional administration can tell doctors oroblige them to go somewhere," Bissonnette said.

He said afamily medicine group in Mont-Tremblantreceived confirmation this week that adoctor has agreed to take a new positionand will begin workin the fall.

But he can't confirm ifthe province will create another doctor positionor if he would allocate oneto theMontcalm co-op.

Bissonette said there may be other options such as a visiting doctor from a family medicine group in Mont-Tremblant or visits from a nurse practitioner or telemedecine.

'Our health system is not working effectively'

Stephen Andrew fervently hopes thenew co-opwill find a doctor.

He and another board memberhave paid $185,000 out of pocketfor the interest fees for the bank loan and the construction costs of the co-op.

Andrew saidthe problem is bigger than that simply finding a doctor to serve the immediate needs of the population.

"It's a question of what happens if you do not have enough GPs for a population particularly a rural population."

Andrew said it's well known thatpeople without a family doctor will go without preventive treatment.

"They wait til they are sick, and then they go to the emergency rooms of hospitals inSaint-Jrme,Lachute,Sainte-Agathe,and they are clogged."