This week we shared physician feedback with Premier Kinew, Health Minister Asagwara and other top system leaders on the next phase of health-service recovery in Dauphin. 

Physicians are seeing meaningful progress in restoring health services following the closure of Dauphin Regional Health Centre, and they have clear advice about what should come next. 

By the numbers: Nearly eight in 10 physicians (79%) say they are satisfied with efforts to establish temporary services in or near Dauphin, given the extent of damage to the hospital. This includes the temporary ER and some diagnostic services. 

What’s needed next: Physicians want to see more services restored as soon as possible, including through temporary solutions. They identified three levels of priority: 

• Priority 1: Obstetrics, full CT services, surgery, special care unit, dialysis and restoring Dauphin as a Telestroke site. Physicians highlighted the profound impact the loss of obstetrical services is having on patients and families. 

• Priority 2: Endoscopy, MRI, medical inpatient beds, hospital pharmacy and chemotherapy. 

• Priority 3: Psychiatric inpatient beds and remaining diagnostic services. 

Physicians increasingly feel heard: Engagement has improved significantly since the early days of the closure, when physicians felt their concerns and front-line expertise were not being adequately sought or heard. 

• Nearly nine in 10 physicians (89%) now agree government is listening to physicians about restoring services in Dauphin. And 68% agree communications from Prairie Mountain Health and Shared Health have improved. 

Yes, but: Important challenges remain. Physicians want clearer regional planning for services being delivered in surrounding communities, including medical beds, operating rooms and obstetrical care. They also recommend erring on the side of maintaining additional physician and staff coverage during this transitional period while services dispersed across the region, to support safe care, staff well-being and retention. It is important to not only support physicians working to maintain services during the hospital closure, but to ensure there is some flexibility and redundancy as services are dispersed across multiple hospital locations. 

What we’re watching: A prolonged disruption could affect physician retention and training. Maintaining opportunities for physicians and residents to practise, learn, and work together will help protect the workforce Dauphin and the surrounding region will need when the hospital fully reopens. 

We extend our gratitude to physicians in Dauphin and surrounding communities for remaining committed to their patients and to each other. We will continue to bring physicians’ advice forward to advocate for your needs. 

Please feel free to write to us any time at practiceadvice@​doctorsmanitoba.​ca.