Head Of Doctor Recruiting Agency Stepping Down

Head Of Doctor Recruiting Agency Stepping Down

Friday, January 08, 2010 at 13:41

The outgoing director of Northern Medical Services says the region’s approach to problem-solving is part of why his agency has been so successful in maintaining physician services for northern communities.

Dr. Peter Butt will be leaving NMS later this year to focus on addictions research at the University of Saskatchewan.

He says that since he joined the agency 14 years ago, he’s seen northerners given greater control over health services, and that has been to the region’s benefit.

Butt says northerners have “a long tradition of practical approaches to problem-solving” and using everyone’s skills and knowledge to full advantage, and this has made his work much more rewarding.

He says northern solutions to physician recruitment and retention — such as teaming doctors with nurse practitioners and putting them on salary rather than fee-for-service — are now attracting interest from other places, including rural areas of Saskatchewan.