In a letter from the Algoma District Medical Group to patients, and obtained by The Sault Star, Keating said he made his decision with \u201cmixed emotions and after much consideration.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been a pleasure to spend my professional career, first as an emergency physician, and then for the last 25 years as a family physician,\u201d Keating said the letter, dated Oct. 22. \u201cEvery day has been a challenge, and every day has been a learning opportunity. I thank you for your patience as I have learned and grown with you, and I hope for the very best of health and future for you all.\u201d<\/p>\n
GHC said that \u201cdriven by his commitment to his patients and his desire to ensure a seamless transition of care,\u201d Keating has twice postponed his retirement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe extend our heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Keating for his decades of service, his exemplary dedication, and his steadfast support for the health and well-being of our community,\u201d reads a statement provided to The Sault Star.<\/p>\n
For 35 years, Keating has been a \u201ccornerstone\u201d of GHC and the Algoma District Medical Group (ADMG),\u00a0<\/span>demonstrating<\/span>\u00a0\u201cexceptional\u201d care and \u201cunwavering\u201d dedication to his patients and the broader community, the statement said.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHis contributions have left an indelible mark on our organization and the community we serve, and we wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement,\u201d GHC said.<\/p>\n Keating\u2019s retirement only adds to the swelling primary care problem here, which became abundantly apparent last spring when GHC announced some 10,000 patients \u2013 one sixth of GHC\u2019s overall roster \u2013 would lose access to primary care services due to a significant physician shortage.<\/p>\n However, the province stepped in at the last minute, unveiling plans for a new outpatient clinic funded by the Ministry of Health. The province injected more than $2.8 million throughout a two-year term to establish the\u00a0Access\u00a0Care Clinic, which could\u00a0service 11,200 patients. Critics, including Ontario Health Coalition, have branded this a Band-Aid solution to a much larger, complex\u00a0problem.<\/p>\n One in five people in Ontario currently do not have a family MD, which will grow to one in four unless action is taken, the Ontario Medical Association says. It\u2019s estimated there are now some 30,000 people in this area without a primary care provider.<\/p>\n Group Health Centre said that while it recognizes concerns about increased demand for the Access Care Clinic services, it continues to take \u201cproactive measures\u201d to manage this transition and support all impacted patients, Giordan Zin, GHC communications manager, told The Sault Star this week.<\/p>\n To address early challenges with accessibility at the Access Care Clinic, GHC has\u00a0expanded\u00a0staff\u00a0by hiring three additional part-time nurse practitioners,\u00a0increasing clinic capacity.<\/p>\n \u201cWe expect these enhancements to assist in reducing delays through improved appointment availability,\u201d Zin said via email. \u201cWe continue to actively recruit additional nurse practitioners for the clinic.\u201d<\/p>\n Since the Access Care Clinic opened in June, GHC has \u201csuccessfully\u201d re-rostered 1,200 patients, connecting them with primary care providers at GHC, Zin said.<\/p>\n In addition to recent Access Care Clinic hires , GHC has also recruited two new primary care\u00a0nurse practitioners, who are \u201cactively building their patient rosters, enabling us to connect approximately 1,500 more patients from the (Access Care Clinic) over the coming months,\u201d Zin said.<\/p>\n