By Amy Woolvett
THE COAST GUARD
The new family physician slated to start early this summer has had her arrival pushed back to August or September.
The physician has signed an agreement through the return of service program where they serve the same number of years the physician spent in their residency.
The physician’s contract will be for two years.
The newest physician should help to lighten the load for family physicians in Shelburne and help the many hundreds of patients looking for a doctor.
The Shelburne Healthcare Recruitment and Retention Committee played a large role in bringing the physician to the area.
The new doctor is expected to work in the upgraded medical clinic located next to Roseway Hospital.
It is hoped that the updated centre will help to attract more health professionals.
With the new clinic, they will be able to work with a team of established physicians who can act as mentors while they establish a practice.
With only 2.5 family physicians left in the Shelburne area, it is hoped that the $536,000 in upgrades to the Shelburne Medical Centre will attract more health care professionals soon.
The medical clinic upgrades are focused on largely meeting those needs.
There will be an addition at the back of the clinic that will include five primary care provider offices, either family physicians or nurse practitioners in a more up-to-date space as well as the transfer to electronic filing will be complete.
