Nurse practitioners may fill ER gap

Digby may get two nurse practitioners to help remedy its lack of emergency department coverage at Digby General Hospital.

Barbara Johnson, communications director with South West Health, said the provincial Department of Health has been asked to fund two nurse practitioners who will work in collaboration with Digby physician Dr. Mark Bander.

If the proposal were approved, Bander would provide emergency coverage on two weekdays and then work in collaboration with nurse practitioners that would provide primary health clinics from the hospital five days per week.

Bander was one of three physicians providing emergency department coverage until recently. Last Thursday, Dr. Roy Harding closed his practice, and Dr. Paula Carmichael has gone on maternity leave.

As of this week, the emergency room is closed weekdays and open only on weekends when locums from Metro Halifax fill in. Johnson said weekend ER coverage has been secured throughout the summer, including the weekend of July 27-29.

Until coverage was obtained for the last weekend of July, there had been plans to close the emergency department July 23 until Aug. 3.

The proposal for nurse practitioners is one of a number of initiatives put forward to provide some weekday emergency care and additional primary care support in Digby, said Johnson.

In a news release from the health authority, she said South West Health is also in discussions with a physician from outside the province who may be interested in taking part in the Digby General Hospital emergency department rotation. Discussions are in preliminary stages but South West Heath’s physician recruiter is working on a site visit for the physician.

South West Health is also working to fast track a program that Yarmouth Regional Hospital pharmacists have been developing to support and monitor people who are on blood thinning medications. This anti-coagulation clinic has been in the development phase and may soon be offered at Digby General to support area residents who are on blood thinner medication.

As well, South West Health is offered services of its senior's services nurse practitioner to Bear River Clinic. The nurse practitioner would provide monthly clinics for seniors aged 65 and older. Details are still being worked out.

"We have many initiatives ongoing to provide both weekday emergency services and primary care to the citizens of Digby, however, at this stage they are all under development," said Blaise MacNeil, chief executive officer of South West Health.

He said the Department of Health has been supportive and understands challenges faced by Digby and the regional health authority.

MacNeil also added an appreciation for efforts by Dr. Mark Bander, who “has been integral to this proposal for nurse practitioners. He feels a deep commitment to the community and without his support, we could not have moved forward with this proposal."