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June 5, 1998
(Health and Community Services)


Government partnering with the Canadian Armed Forces to enhance physician services in the province

Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health and Community Services, along with Lieutenant Colonel Doctor Ken Jenkins and Chief Warrant Officer Rex Pitcher of the Department of National Defense and John Peddle, Executive Director of Newfoundland and Labrador Health Care Association, gathered today to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to commence a unique and exciting arrangement between the Department of Health and Community Services and the Division Surgeon 1 Canadian Air Force.

This announcement outlines an arrangement which will see Air Force physicians and physician assistants working within the health system throughout the province. "We are very excited about this agreement because it will be mutually beneficial to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Air Force. It will provide medical teams to under serviced or needy areas of the province and offer the Air Force health professionals the opportunity to expand their clinical experience in real life settings," said Minister Aylward.

Air Force medical personnel will work in both rural and urban areas supplying professional services in family medicine, emergency room and on-call coverage. These physicians and physician assistants will work together as a team and side-by-side with other health professionals in the provincial health system. These teams will not replace existing health professionals. "The team approach of the Canadian Air Force certainly complements the multi-disciplinary or clustered approach we have endorsed in this province," said Minister Aylward. "This arrangement is a result of a recommendation by Doctor Peter Blackie of Central East Region, the department's recruiting efforts, government's commitment to quality heath care and the cooperative spirit of the Department of National Defense."

While the Air Force medical teams are not a permanent solution to the ongoing challenge of physician recruitment, they will provide relief for physicians and other health professionals and enhance health care in under-serviced areas of the province. Teams will usually be sent to areas for periods of three to six weeks at a time.

Contact: Glenn Bruce, Director of Communications, (709) 729-1377.

1998 06 05 2:25 p.m.


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