That includes healthcare professionals like Dr. Pam Orr, an internal medical consultant to the NMU who's been visiting the Keewatin for 20 years.

"The health board has informed the NMU that they plan to pursue other options for the delivery of services and perhaps research and teaching. So, I'm really unclear at the moment whether for instance I'll be asked to come up again to the Keewatin," Orr said.

"I would have to hear from the health board what their vision of health care is here. I've indicated what my vision is. I feel strongly that health care has to include clinical care to the individual patient, research and teaching."

Orr, who is also an associate professor in the department of medicine and community health at University of Manitoba is concerned that these three elements may be lost when services are privatized in the fall.

"In a private health care model, often economics drives the process rather than the best care for the individual or the community," Orr said.

She explained that right now, there's a strong relationship between nurse practitioners and family doctors. Nurses are committed, hard-working and are constantly training to become better operators on the front lines.

Both nurses and doctors are hired and trained by NMU to work in the Keewatin. They share information and work closely to tackle problems and concerns of residents.

"NMU has developed an expertise that's recognized internationally. We have spend a lot of time trying to improve what we do and we're fairly proud that we have a reputation at an international level," Orr said.

"A group of health care workers came last year from northern Norway to study at the NMU especially in the realm of patient care, how do we look after patients over long distances involving many doctors."

The KRHB's plan to get rid of the NMU seems ironic to Orr.

"It's interesting that southern Canada and many parts of the United States are now discovering that the private enterprise model of health care does not lead to good health, and the model that we have here where nurse practitioners are primary care givers and family doctors provide support is ideal for health care delivery," she said.

"It's ironic if the Keewatin is pursuing a private enterprise, fee-for-service model and replacing a university-based model -- that this is the opposite of what the south wants to do. I think we have a very good system now and I'd be disappointed if it was dismantled."

Time to move on

Sue Lightford, has been the nurse-in-charge in Rankin Inlet for more than a year now but last Friday, she called it quits.

With 10 years of Northern experience under her belt -- most of it gained in the Keewatin -- Lightford said the stress of being on-call most of the time, the high nurse turn-over and the personal need for more in her life has influenced her decision to leave.

"I loved the work. It's been the most exciting job I've ever had and the challenges I've had go on and on, personally and professionally," she said last Thursday at the Nursing Centre in Rankin Inlet.

"There's nothing like seeing children being born and watching them grow up. There's nothing like seeing people work through their problems and over the years get better."

Lightford, who's done everything from addressing public health issues to organizing medical travel to working with referrals, is proud of the time she's spent in the region.

But now that she's leaving, there are a few things on her mind. For one thing, she's upset with the KRHB's plan to no longer work with NMU.

"The care from NMU is tried, tested and true. It's excellent and it worries me that we may never see that consistency again with that kind of service," she said.

Lightford said the health board's decision to get rid of the NMU was made without consulting the people or the nursing station.

"I think that in order to provide the care to the Keewatin region the KRHB will have to go out and have open communication so that major decisions are made in an informed way. It should be made for the people," she said.

Lightford said many nurses in the Keewatin have not even been informed about the decision in much the same manner as the board removed dental therapists without consulting with the public.

"I'm worried this will be a very chaotic year with the NMU leaving and I really don't have any more energy to deal with the chaos. And it's been chaotic (during) my time here with the turnover of staff and the short staff conditions."

Since 1989, Lightford has seen close to 100 nurses go in and out the doors at the Rankin Inlet Health Centre.

"I feel like I'm jumping ship," said Lightford.