Mac Olsen
Express Staff
Brooks, Alberta was the scene of a significant conference during the weekend of April 11-12, regarding the Rural Health Professions Action Plan
Myrna Lanctot, the coordinator for the Smoky River Regional Physician Recruitment & Retention Committee, was one of several people to attend that meeting. Lanctot offered her thoughts about it during SRRPR&RC meeting at the Town of Falher office in the evening of April 18.
“Building a community has shown that health quality goes up, gangs go down and children stay in the community,” says Lanctot.
The theme of the conference was ‘Stepping it Up’. Lanctot participated on a panel to discuss recruiting and retaining physicians.
She emphasized the importance of being there for the physicians’ families every step of the way. She also discussed her role with the SRRPR&RC, and the challenges and successes she’s had.
“We were sharing with the other communities, our success stories.”
Also, during the April 18 meeting, Lanctot suggested an annual meeting with physicians in the region, and to ask them for feedback about what’s working and not working for them.
That meeting will take place sometime in May.
The committee also agreed to hold a Rural Health Week event at the Sacred Heart Community Health Centre in McLennan on June 19. It will consist of a coffee break with all staff.
The same event will be held at the two clinics in the region during the same week.
The next committee meeting will be held at the Town of Falher office, at 7 p.m. on June 14, and it is open to the public.