Effective September 23, Sunrise Health Region has arranged for additional physician coverage to be available in Preeceville. This will increase the number of clinic appointments available and will increase emergency department coverage.
Dr. Farzana Timol, who has served as a locum in Preeceville in the past, will be returning to provide extra clinic and daytime emergency department coverage from September 2325.
The Sunrise Health Region has just hired a regional locum physician, said a release from Sunrise. Dr. Deborah Djan will begin working for the region on October 1 and will primarily be located in Preeceville until the new physician arrives.
A physician newly recruited for Preeceville is currently in the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) program and, pending successful completion, will set up practice in Preeceville in January.
The locum physician coverage of Dr. Djan and Dr. Timol will augment the services of permanent providers, Dr. Taofik Adedeji and Dawn Kennedy, a nurse practitioner.
Other services provided in Preeceville include: laboratory, x-ray, hospital, longterm care, respite, day wellness, home care, Telehealth, public health nursing and therapy services.
Regional visiting services continue to be provided in Preeceville and include professionals from mental health and addictions services, a dietitian, an exercise therapist and the chronic disease management team.
This additional physician coverage is not sufficient to fully avoid service interruptions, according to the Sunrise release. In an emergency, when someone calls 911, an ambulance will ensure that the patient gets to the closest hospital for the type of care needed.
If someone is uncertain whether emergency care is needed, or in a case where medical advice will suffice, area residents can dial 811 to reach the Healthline anytime day or night. The registered nurses at the Healthline provide advice and will direct callers to the closest available emergency department, if needed.
The emergency department schedule can also be found at www.sunrisehealthregion.sk.ca under Alerts and Notices/Service Interruptions.
