OUTLOOK - A brand-new sublease agreement has been signed surrounding the Outlook Medical Clinic, replacing the initial 15-year agreement with a new three-year one, with an option to renew.
A number of parties came together for the official signing ceremony on Wednesday, August 7 in the board room of the Outlook & District Health Centre, including representatives from the Town of Outlook, the RM of Rudy, and the RM of Fertile Valley.
Joining them in signing the agreement were Dr. Hein Mynhardt, Dr. Sumita Sodhi, and new arrival Dr. Reza Rostamzedah-Khouzani, the newest addition to the medical clinic.
The three local municipalities have been the owners of the clinic space in Outlook since the Health Centre was originally built in 2008. At that time, a 15-year agreement was signed with Dr. Mynhardt and Dr. Brewer on behalf of the physicians group, and the sublease expired in October of last year.
The actively-practicing physicians at the clinic showed an interest in signing on behalf of the practice to secure the physical space for the clinic over a long term period, and local municipalities felt that it was important to renew the commitment in order to ensure that the space for physician services are sustainable in Outlook for years to come.
It's being said that all three municipalities and the medical clinic will continue to work side by side to recruit and retain physicians in the Outlook and surrounding community area.
The new three-year agreement with an option to renew contains a number of highlights, including:
- A three-year sublease with an option to renew for an additional three years;
- A fixed rent per physician of $500 per month regardless of the number of physicians working at the clinic;
- The clinic reimbursing overhead for space charged to the municipalities by the Saskatchewan Health Authority;
- A notification period for cancellation of the lease;
- A mechanism for the removal of a physician in default of the agreement; and
- Commitments to furnishings and reasonable repairs.
A number of people commented on this announcement by way of a media release.
"The committee and the physicians have worked for over a year to find terms acceptable to all parties," said Bree Campbell, Chair of the Joint Health Committee and an RM of Rudy councillor. "We are confident that this agreement will work well for us going forward."
"All of our health professionals provide first rate services to the region," said Maureen Weiterman, committee member and Mayor of Outlook. "It is incumbent on the Councils to ensure that facilities managed by the municipalities are up to snuff."
"The clinic space is our responsibility and it is good that we are able to come to terms with the three doctors currently serving Outlook on behalf of the doctors in the future," said Bob Silverthorn, Committee Vice-Chair and an RM of Fertile Valley councillor.
"As part of the SHA, the Outlook and District Health Centre recognizes the importance of this agreement and we believe that this is an important step to securing seamless health care for the residents of Outlook and surrounding areas," read a statement by the Saskatchewan Health Authority. "We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Outlook Medical Clinic to inspire growth in our ability to respond to the evolving health care needs of our community."
Speaking of the SHA, the Authority has been looking at temporary measures in order to help sustain and support access to emergency health services in rural and remote communities around the province as a number of facilities, including Outlook, have been hit with a growing number of service disruptions due to staff shortages.
As a result, one way that such a problem is being combated in Outlook is the use of a virtual physician program.
Using the existing technology of HealthLine 811, the virtual physician program provides nursing staff with remote access to a physician, and this virtual network helps staff address emergent medical needs of patients coming to the emergency room at the Outlook and District Health Centre when local physicians are unavailable. All patients are assessed, triaged and receive treatment based on their care needs.
The program has already seen success as far as enhancing patient access to emergency health services for residents of other communities, including the town of Biggar.
