I did something this week that I haven’t done since I arrived in Estevan nearly 18 years ago.
I booked a doctor’s appointment.
Admittedly, I’ve lived a pretty charmed existence when it comes to health. I’ve never needed an operation, other than when I was 14 to correct crossed eyes.
(Kids, when your parents tell you not to cross your eyes, please listen. It might seem cool to see double, but there are long-term consequences. You don’t want to be the 10-year-old with bifocals).
I was diagnosed with asthma when I was a kid, but I think I have outgrown it. I still have allergies, especially to cats.Ìý
I’ve never had a broken bone. I’m rarely sick. I had a cold this year for the first time in more than two years. I don’t get the flu.
I don’t eat healthy, and I drink more than my fair share of beer, and I enjoy an occasional cigar. But as a whole, I’m pretty healthy. (Credit to jogging at the track near Estevan Comprehensive School for that).
So you can understand why finding a physician has been fairly low on my priority scale. I’m not afraid of going to the doctor. I just don’t need to see one. Other people need a doctor more than I do. Ìý
But a funny thing will happen later this year that has caused me to re-evaluate my needs. I’m going to turn 40. Not only does it mean a mid-life crisis is likely going to be in the offing, but it means re-evaluating certain elements of my life.
One of them is having a doctor.
Admittedly, I’ve been waiting to get a doctor for about a year. But as we all know, Estevan went through a physician shortage for a while. It made it difficult to find a doctor in the community, and there are people without a doctor who needed one a lot more than I did.
The emergency ward at St. Joseph’s Hospital had a physician and a nurse on-site each weekday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for those who have a medical need, but don’t have access to a physician. I would hope the people in the emergency room would have more pressing medical need than the little bump on the bridge of my nose.
Finally, though, some relief is here. Dr. Boye Adeboye started practising last month. He’s been pretty busy since arriving. Two more physicians – Dr. Ahmed Belal and Dr. Hanan Yazid – will commence practices soon. They’ll be busy in a hurry as well.
We’re up to 12 physicians. Ten of them are general practitioners. And those tasked with physician recruitment will tell you that they are continuing to try to attract more doctors to the community.
It’s a tough life being in the medical community, but it’s particularly hard being a doctor. My mother was a nurse for 38 years; she likely could have been a doctor if she wanted to. I'm glad she didn’t. As hard as my mom worked, as many hours as she put in, she likely would have had an even more demanding schedule if she was a doctor.
Yes, it’s a high-paying job, but it also requires long hours. It can be emotionally draining. And you’re always under the microscope.
Most doctors rarely get any recognition, unless they do something wrong. Then it’s all over the news, or on social media. And while accountability needs to be in the medical profession, just like any other job, we have to remember the pressures and the demands placed on doctors.
And it’s obviously a profession that requires a high level of intelligence, with extensive training and a willingness to keep training up to date.
We often wonder why physician shortages occur, and why it seems that doctors are here for a few years before they move on. Other communities ask the same questions. There aren’t many communities the size of Estevan that don’t have a physician shortage at some point.
Doctors are an essential service, but they’re also in short supply. And that’s why doctor recruitment is so competitive. (It’s also why retention is so critical).
I’m thankful to have new doctors in the community. I hope they do well, I hope they have a healthy patient load, but aren’t overworked. And I hope they enjoy their time in Estevan.
And I’m glad that I can now get an appointment to see a doctor. After all, as the big 4-0 approaches, I have to be cognizant of my health more than ever before. Ìý
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