Kneehill County approves subsidy for medical clinic as doctor incentive

Stu Salkeld,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Kneehill County council approved a rental subsidy for their local medical clinic as a strategy for attracting and retaining physicians, an issue that appears to be one of the most serious facing rural municipalities across Alberta. The rent stabilization pilot program was approved at the July 23 regular meeting of council.

County Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Mike Haugen presented councillors with the fruits of many weeks of effort, the medical clinic rent stabilization program, a collaborative effort to ease pressure on local doctors and allow them to focus their resources elsewhere.

“The CEOs and CAOs representing Kneehill County and the five urban municipalities of Three Hills, Trochu, Acme, Carbon, and Linden have had several meetings regarding the sustainability of physician services in the region,” stated Haugen in his report. “At various times, local physicians have also participated.

“Through discussion, it is recommended that the municipalities partner to provide a three year rent stabilization program for the Kneehill Medical Clinic. This program would see the participating municipalities contribute a total of $90,000 annually to cover the clinic’s base rent, thus easing the financial overhead of the clinic’s physicians.”

The CAO noted the group of municipalities negotiated a funding formula for this pilot program that included a 70 per cent population factor with a 30 per cent assessment factor; he noted later in the meeting other municipalities were open to negotiation and agreed physician recruitment and retention is a regional responsibility, not just one community’s.

Haugen provided a chart with the following financial commitments for each community in the three year pilot program based on the above formula: Kneehill County $50,807, Town of Three Hills $22,589, Town of Trochu $6,930, Village of Linden $5,368 and Village of Acme $4,306.

Haugen noted the rent stabilization program is one part of physician recruitment and retention aimed at ensuring the Three Hills Hospital is itself in good health. “The group’s overall goal has been to facilitate medical services in the region with the specific intent of ensuring the sustainability of the Three Hills Hospital,” stated the CAO in his report to council. “The hospital is critical for the region from the perspectives of quality of life and economic development. It is expected that by helping the Kneehill Medical Clinic, physician operations in the hospital will also be helped by attracting additional physicians.

“The regional group feels this program will provide a unique advantage that the Kneehill Medical Clinic can utilize to attract additional physicians and serve more patients. This program would replace the current incentive program offered to new physicians from now on.”

Haugen noted physicians had input on this proposal and already approved it. He noted all other communities had already approved it.

Haugen added the physician recruitment task force looked at existing incentives offered to physicians and came to the conclusion they weren’t working. The CAO stated it’s hoped this program allows local physicians and the clinic to explore other areas of service delivery.

Coun. Jerry Wittstock recognized the work of many people in developing this important program. “We’ve been in a situation where things have not been going well and I think this should fix that situation,” said Wittstock.

Coun. Debbie Penner asked how the community could judge this program as successful. Reeve Ken King responded the pilot program contains objectives such as more doctors at the clinic, doctors staying in the community, increased patient numbers at the clinic and stability at the Three Hills Hospital, including the emergency room.

King noted he saw promise in this program. “I think the opportunity for success going this way is great,” said the reeve.

Councillors unanimously approved the medical clinic rent stabilization pilot program.

Stu Salkeld,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
East Central Alberta Review