The entire process may not be completed, but Dr. Justin French says he has enough encouraging news to proceed with building his new ophthalmology clinic in Corner Brook.
The city eye doctor is part of the negotiating team involving the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association (NLMA) and the Department of Health and Community Services working on how cataract surgeries can be done outside of a hospital setting.
French has been frustrated by long wait times for his patients, due to his limited access to the surgical facilities at Western Memorial Regional Hospital. He wants to open his own clinic so those wait times can be reduced.
Last year, after initially telling French such procedures could not be done outside of a hospital setting, the provincial government softened its stance and became more receptive to French’s ideas.
Earlier this year, the province announced it was making changes to allow for approved clinics. That triggered the consultations with the NLMA to determine how this could be done, including coming up with an appropriate physician-compensation model for performing these surgeries.
That major piece has been accomplished and is now included in an amended memorandum of understanding between the association and the provincial government.
There are still more formalities to be hashed out, including accreditation requirements and establishing an essential intake system that would allocate patients to the physician with the shortest wait list.
French, though, sees no insurmountable obstacles left to keep him from going ahead with his clinic.
“If my facility was built right now, it would still be a few months before I could operate, but all of the finances and stuff that allows me to proceed has taken place and has been written up, so that’s great news,” said French.
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Land has already been acquired for the site, which French said will be near the site of the new regional hospital being built.
He hopes to start construction this spring and said it would take about a year to build it.
In his own practice, it takes about a year for someone referred by an optometrist for cataract surgery to be assessed by French and then another year to schedule the surgery if it is deemed necessary.
“This is going to make a big improvement for eye care in the province,” said French.
The ripple effect of these positive developments has already begun, he said. French said he has recruited one ophthalmologist to come to work in Corner Brook for a one-year locum, starting June 17, and has a commitment from another to come for the long-term when he or she is finished training in four years.
He is also continuing to recruit for another ophthalmologist to work at his clinic.
“This has really proven to facilitate recruitment and moves things in the right direction,” he said.
Weblink:
The amendment made to the memorandum of understanding between the NLMA and the provincial government: https://bit.ly/2PH1Cy2
