DOCTOR DILEMMA
Replacement physicians have been found for Dr. Garth Sylsz and Dr. David Stewart, but recruitment ongoing for Dr. Ken Coady’s practice
While replacement physicians have been found for two retired physicians, recruitment ongoing for Dr. Ken Coady’s practice
For the last 35 years, anytime Janice Bokyo felt ill, she would visit her family doctor, Dr. Ken Coady.
But the 81-year-old from Cape Traverse was surprised to learn this week that her longtime family doctor had retired.
She says she was only informed about it on July 10, just before her telephone interview with The Guardian.
“I had absolutely no idea he was retiring. Totally a surprise,” she said.
“I’m disappointed by his retiring. He was a good doctor.”
Boyko said she planned to telephone Coady’s office to try to find out about what plans the province has to to replace him.
Boyko is not alone. Thousands of patients in P.E.I. are finding out their family doctor has retired. Coady is one of three family physicians who has recently left his practice for retirement.
Health P.E.I. has successfully recruited clinicians to take over the practices of Dr. Garth Sylsz and Dr. David Stewart. Those replacements are expected to be in place and treating patients later this summer.
Given the large size of each of these family practices, the department is also recruiting nurse practitioners to work collaboratively with the new family physicians, said Dr.
Andre Celliers, Health P.E.I.’s chief of family and community medicine.
“Nurse practitioners are an important part of our primary care system. There are currently 18 nurse practitioners working in a variety of healthcare settings across P.E.I., including 11 in primary care,” Celliers said.
“We will continue to work with primary care providers to explore opportunities to integrate more nurse practitioners into collaborative family physician practices so they can take on more patients together.”
However, Health P.E.I. has not yet found a replacement physician for Coady’s 1,800 patients.
Several locum physicians have been secured for the summer months as recruitment efforts continue for a full-time physician to take over the practice.
“Our recruitment efforts began as soon as Dr. Coady advised Health P.E.I. of his intentions to retire,” Celliers said.
“Whenever possible, we try to keep family practices together and not move them to the patient registry as it makes it easier when recruiting for a new physician to take over.”
Meanwhile, Bokyo says she will remember her experiences with Coady over the years as nothing but positive.
“He’s been a great doctor. I thought the world of him actually,” she said.
“Dr. Coady knew me inside and out.”