Sole peds gastroenterologist in Sask. retiring
Some children with tummy trouble may need to leave the province for diagnosis and treatment after Saskatchewan’s sole pediatric gastroenterologist retires.
Sub-specialist Dr. Garth Bruce will retire as of July 1, and the Saskatoon Health Region has yet to recruit a replacement.
“We are continuing to look for the perfect candidate, because I think it’s quite necessary,” said Dr. Laurentiu Givelichian, head of pediatrics for both the health region and the University of Saskatchewan.
With the impending construction of a children’s hospital, and several candidates interested in the job, Saskatchewan is an employer’s market, Givelichian said, adding he’s in no hurry to fill the post with a “warm body.”
Meanwhile, the region’s contingency plan will see Dr. Bruce’s cases assigned to a general pediatrician, who will consult with gastroenterology subspecialists in Alberta on patients’ care, Givelichian said.
However, if a child needs a gastroscopy or a colonoscopy — a procedure that snakes a camera or other tool down the throat or into the colon — they will likely have to travel to Alberta, Givelichian said.
Gastroenterologists who treat adults may not be comfortable performing those procedures on small children, he said. Givelichian couldn’t predict how many patients would need to travel. He said between 30 and 50 Saskatchewan children need such scopes each year.
Gastroenterologists see patients with problems like constipation and diarrhea, and more complex diseases such as Crohn’s, colitis, celiac, and unexplained bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
Bruce was receiving about 320 referrals a year, and has around 650 patients, Givelichian said. He wouldn’t say how long it may take to find a permanent replacement for the specialist.
With the Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan scheduled to open in 2017, the health region has struck an agreement with the provincial government that will hopefully solve the problem of relying on one pediatric specialist to serve an entire province.
By the time the hospital opens, the health region aims to recruit at least two of each pediatric specialist — one of whom would primarily see patients, and one of whom would focus on research. Givelichian said this will prevent a shortage should one doctor retire or quit, and should help the university and health region’s push to increase clinical research.
Pediatric rheumatology will likely be the first specialty to use this new model, Givelichian said. A pediatric rheumatologist has recently retired, and the region is looking for two new doctors.
“(It’s) to have the clinical backup for the children who need that service not to remain uncovered if one of them is not available.”
He doesn’t have the money now to hire a second pediatric gastroenterologist, but it should be in place by the time the hospital opens, he said.
A shortage of pediatric neurologists has improved, as Saskatchewan will soon have three of the specialists practicing.
The health region’s CEO said last year Saskatoon must recruit 23 more pediatricians by the time the new hospital opens.