Rainy River assured emergency room will remain open, despite doctor departure

The mayor of Rainy River in northwestern Ontario says she's been assured that the emergency room in the community's hospital will continue to operate, even if doctors withdraw their services this fall.

In a letter posted to Facebook last week, Dr. Joseph Ennett announced the impending "departure" of the Rainy River Physician Group.

"It is with regret that the physician group in Rainy River is giving the community notice that after Sept. 30, 2024, we will no longer be providing hospital services to the Riverside Health Care Facility - Rainy River Site," the letter reads.

Ennett said the current contract between the doctors and Ontario's Ministry of Health (MOH) mandates that the doctors provide service to the hospital, including 24-hour emergency room coverage. However, "under the current conditions, we are unable to continue to do that adequately and safely."

"At this time, our MOH contracts that pay physicians for clinic and hospital responsibilities does not allow us to continue to receive funding to operating the clinic independently of hospital services."

The letter says two of the doctors will end services to the Rainy River Medical Clinic as of Sept. 30, while Ennett will continue to provide support to the clinic until Nov. 30 to meet the 90-day notification requirement for closing a practice.

The hope, Ennett said, is that the MOH will alter its funding arrangement with the doctors to allow the clinic to function independently.

"At this time, I am not aware of any contingency plan for hospital services after Sept. 30, 2024. Nurse practitioner services will be available as per usual until further notice."

"In summary, at this time there is no plan for physician services to be available to the Rainy River hospital after Sept. 30, 2024 or the Rainy River Medical Clinic after Nov. 30, 2024."

CBC News has contacted the clinic, but we have not yet received any comment.

"Right away, of course, everybody and everything is in panic mode.​​​​- Deborah Ewald, mayor of Rainy River

On Thursday, Rainy River Mayor Deborah Ewald said the community was concerned about the announcement.

"Right away, of course, everybody and everything is in panic mode," Ewald said.

However, she's received some good news from Riverside Health Care Facilities, which operates hospitals in Fort Frances, Rainy River and Emo.

"Riverside in Fort Frances has assured the town that the emergency [room] will not close here in Rainy River," Ewald said. "They will … staff it, and they're actively looking for doctors to fill in until things settle."

Recruitment underway

In a statement issued to CBC News on Wednesday, a Riverside spokesperson said the recruitment of locums — or temporary physicians — to keep the emergency room at the Rainy River Health Centre open is in progress.

"We are working with the ministry, the local municipalities, and Indigenous communities in the Rainy River area to achieve a model that will support effective recruitment and retention of full-time physicians in the community," the statement says. "The physician contract in Rainy River is with the Ministry of Health. As such, we do not have any jurisdiction over the in-clinic physician arrangement."

A spokesperson from the MOH confirmed those efforts in another statement to CBC News.

"Ontario Health is working collaboratively with the hospital on a plan," it says. "Keeping the emergency department open 24 hours is a priority to both the hospital and the province. We continue to work hand-in-hand with our health-care partners in Rainy River to ensure that Ontarians can access the care they need, when they need it."

A spokesperson for Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford said Rickford wasn't available for an interview, but provided a statement to CBC News.

"Together with leadership at Riverside Health Care Facilities, our government is developing a plan to address [the] health [and] human resource strain across the northwest. Northerners deserve care when they need it in a convenient and safe location.

"We are actively collaborating with our health-care partners to ensure that the highest standards of patient care are consistently met. Keeping the emergency department open is a priority for our government, as it provides crucial services to the people of Rainy River and the surrounding area," it says.

Ewald said the closest hospital is in Fort Frances, which is about an hour's drive from Rainy River. At this point, she isn't sure what the future holds for the clinic.

"They're more concerned with the emergency [room] in the hospital itself right now," Ewald said. "I really don't know the plan for [the clinic], whether people will just have to go to emerge if they have problems."

"I'm hoping that we could get doctors to come in, even temporarily, and just keep the clinic and stuff going."

Residents 'justifiably' upset: MP

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP Marcus Powlowski said people in the community are "justifiably" upset over the situation.

"I spoke to one elderly gentleman the other day who was concerned about losing their doctor, and he said it was difficult for him to drive to Fort Frances," Powlowski said. "He found it physically difficult. I would have to think that's especially the case in the middle of winter."

"I think it's kind of unrealistic to think that you're going to sell your house and find some other place to live based on an issue like this," he said. "My guess is, in choosing a place to live, you did it partly based on what medical services were available."

While health care primarily falls under provincial jurisdiction, Powlowski — who holds a medical degree and was a practicing physician prior to being elected — said there are things the federal government can do to help with situations like the one in Rainy River, including making it easier for foreign-trained doctors to practice in Canada.

"I'd be happy to try to help in whatever way I can, as somebody who's a long-time emergency room doctor in Thunder Bay," he said. "I also did an occasional shift up in Fort Frances and Kenora. I'm familiar with the medical issues, and I've also worked in other places, which are pretty remote."

"I kind of know the issues … trying to keep doctors in those communities, and I'm certainly willing to help out. But the nitty-gritty decision-making regarding physician recruitment retention in these places is under provincial jurisdiction."