Regina-area radiologists ask health minister to help resolve workplace dispute

REGINA – A group of radiologists wants Health Minister Dustin Duncan to help sort out a growing dispute with the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region.

Radiology Associates of Regina (RAR) say the health region is trying to use other people to analyze medical imaging technologies such as x-rays, ultrasounds, CTs and MRIs.

“We really are at a standstill,” Dr. Andrea Gourgaris, a spokeswoman for the group, said.

“We find that more radiologists are leaving the city and the region.”

At the end of November 2015, RAR said it was told its commitment with the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (RQHR) would be terminated by Dec. 1, 2015. They also said the decision was made without consultation and was not communicated by letter

RQHR responded by saying they didn’t want to negotiate a contract with just one business group, RAR.

Instead, the health region indicated that it wanted to establish a relationship with the group of hospital radiologists, outside of RAR.

Both RAR and RQHR failed to come to a resolution at two negotiation meetings in the fall, but are continuing the dialogue.

RAR also says the region is using unknown doctors over the Internet and is bringing in visiting physicians to do the work.

RAR further suggest the dispute is prompting experienced radiologists, including specialists, to leave. Since Jan. 1, four radiologists have resigned, according to Gourgais.

“The last four have been quite clear that they’re leaving because this is becoming a stressful, difficult environment to work in,” Gourgais said.

“They feel like their practice would be appreciated outside the region.”

In the last year and a half, she says a total of eight radiologists have left, including six under the age of 40.

Dr. Raj Patel, a Regina radiologist, said recruiting radiologists to the region has become increasingly difficult.

“I’m getting some people who are very concerned about coming here with the current situation and the proposed model,” Patel said.

Patel said other regions have an advantage with group contracts for hospital work and community services, as the group handles patient care and wait lists.

“I think in the end, the patient care is going to suffer and the wait lists are going to go up,” Patel said.

Duncan responded to the request to intervene Tuesday morning, saying it’s concerning anytime healthcare providers leave the province for any reason and he said he is hopeful RAR and RQHR will come to an agreement to continue services.

“I’m not sure it’s really my role at this point to step in,” Duncan said, adding he has met with both groups.

“I think that both sides, they have their positions and I think that as a mediator indicated, they’re still very far apart and I think that’s a sign that both need to look at their positions and perhaps reevaluate where they’re standing.”

Duncan said he understands both the RAR concerns about the change in contracts and the RQHR’s side, where Duncan said the in-hospital radiology services cost $14 million. Last year, Duncan said the RAR received payments of $22 million.

“In-hospital services, it’s a sole-sourced, exclusive contract, untendered contract,” Duncan said.

“Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region believes that they need a better relationship with the radiologists, that there needs to be more oversight and more accountability for them as an organization.”

Gourgaris said Duncan’s response was “extremely disappointing.”

“I really come to him and to the public now with really no other options,” Gourgaris said.

Keith Dewar, CEO of the health region, says there is no shortage of radiologists and says the group’s claims could confuse the public.

“At some point, if we cannot continue to stabilize, maintain the stability of the service delivery, I think at that point, the ministry would be expected to step in and assist those parties,” Dewar said.

“We are not at that point yet.”

Like Duncan, Dewar said radiologists leave the region for a variety of reasons. According to Dewar, there are currently 20 radiologists in the region and the region needs 14 radiologists minimum.

Dewar also added the RQHR would not go back to the fee-for-service commitment with the RAR.

“The public are better served if you go through a competitive process to ensure that you’re truly getting value for the public resources that we’ll be spending,” Dewar said.

As for recruitment, Dewar said while RQHR has found people have made strong statements about what it’s like to work in the region, they do have a couple of radiologists who work directly for the RQHR, and feels there are radiologists who want to come to the region.

“They seem to be both quite pleased with the relationship and quite happy with the work with the region,” Dewar said.

With files from The Canadian Press and David Baxter