Deh Cho board keeps health workers happy
Glen Vienneau
Northern News Services
Fort Simpson (Jan 08/01) - With the exception of one recent resignation, the Deh Cho remains a strong force within the NWT health services.
"I think that we're pretty lucky," said Kathy Tsetso, chief executive officer for the Deh Cho Health and Social Services.
But, it's more than blind chance that allows the Deh Cho to maintain eight community health nurses and three head-nurses.
Access to the Mackenzie Highway, the natural beauty of the nearby mountains and rivers are factors, but nurses are especially drawn by the cadre of experienced medical staff in Deh Cho, Tsetso said.
"People like to work when there is that experience in a health centre," she said.
The Deh Cho communities of Fort Simpson, Fort Providence and Fort Liard were short staffed last summer, but the board was able to fill five positions in the fall.
Nurse educator Linda Lafontaine played a major role, Tsetso said.
Lafontaine used her extensive experience in community health programming, managing and supervision to help new nurses adapt to their jobs.
"So when the new people started there was somebody to walk through with them," said Tsetso.
Funding for Lafontaine's job ends in March and Tsetso wants to see the program continued. There are also nurse educators in Inuvik and the Dogrib region.
Tsetso hopes to fill the position vacated by a nurse who took a job with the Stanton Regional Hospital in Yellowknife.
Tsetso is also looking for a physician with emergency experience. The board has a locum physician sharing the position on a two month rotation.
"This is the first time in three years we actually had a locum."
