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It was a close vote whether the Municipality of Kincardine should
spend $80,000 as an incentive to retrieve the services of former
Kincardine physician, Dr. Michael Emond.
In committee-of-the-whole last night (Sept. 9), chief administrative
officer John deRosenroll said a return to service agreement would
entice Emond to the Kincardine Community Medical Clinic where he
would open a family practice. He would start out in the orphan
clinic and build his practice through the rostering of patients,
said deRosenroll. The administrative process would be the same as
that of a recent medical graduate, meaning Emond would have to be
accepted as a locum (supply doctor) by the Ontario Ministry of
Health and Long-Term Care, and he would have to join as a member of
the Family Health Group.
"Dr. Emond has met with the Kincardine Physicians Group and they are
in agreement that an additional doctor will help alleviate the
current orphan clinic population of between 6,000 and 7,000 people,"
said deRosenroll.
The return to service agreement would be for a seven-year period,
and would include funding of $20,000 per year for four years to help
Emond set up his practice, as well as an office rental agreement to
include him in the medical clinic. The initial $20,000 in funding
would come from the Kincardine physician recruitment and retention
budget, while the remaining $60,000 would come from the respective
municipal budget for the next three years, said deRosenroll.
Councillor Randy Roppel asked if Emond would receive a stipend once
accepted as a locum, if he would receive a pay cheque as a locum
once accepted by the health ministry, and if he would receive
payment from OHIP once he joins the family health group. "Yes," said
deRosenroll.
"I support this if he wants to perform a valuable service to this
community," said Roppel, "but I don't support paying him this
funding he has asked for."
(next column)
10/09/2009 12:00 AM
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"Six-and-a-half years ago, Emond disappeared
from this community," said councillor Marsha Leggett. "His
patients wondered where he went. Well, he went to school and
not for the betterment of his patients. Now, here we are
caught by the short and curlies on this. We're short
doctors. Dr. Emond, if hired, will not work in the ER
(emergency room) due to health problems. We'd be spending
$80,000 in taxpayers' money from the Municipality of
Kincardine and it's a benefit to the people of Huron-Kinloss
too. That's a lot for us to pay. People are fighting to keep
our hospital. If we don't go along with this ... I support
hiring Dr. Emond, but under duress."
Councillor Ron Hewitt noted that Huron-Kinloss provides
funding for physician recruitment and retention in Kincardine. "I
support this agreement," he said.
Mayor Larry Kraemer said Emond provided 25 years of medical service to
the community of Kincardine. This return to service agreement means he
can start a practice at the clinic and help alleviate the workload on
the other seven doctors working there. "Our physicians are desperate for
help and we need a licensed doctor to help deal with the orphan clinic,"
he said. "If you don't like it (agreement), hold your nose and support
it."
In council session later in the meeting, the agreement was approved,
6-3, in a recorded vote, with mayor Larry Kraemer, deputy mayor Laura
Haight and councillors Mike Leggett, Kenneth Craig, Ron Hewitt and
Marsha Leggett (under duress) in favour, while councillors Gordon
Campbell, Randy Roppel and Guy Anderson were opposed.
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