The skills of a physician and businessperson don't necessarily overlap and an innovative new clinic structure in Fort St. James separates those distinct duties.
The community is in the process of creating a non-profit society which will operate the district's only clinic and let the physicians focus on what they do best - family medicine.
"This model is very much about letting physicians be physicians and then letting other people look after the business aspects," said Dr. Sean Ebert, a founding member of the Northern Interior Rural Division of Family Practice.
Most clinics and owned and operated by physicians, who collect money based on a fee-for-servince model with the Medical Services Plan. They use some of the money they bring to hire staff, pay rent and generally administer the clinic.
In some communities, like McKenzie and Fraser Lake, Northern Health owns and operates the clinic and pays doctors a salary to work there. The Fort St. James model takes that one step further by having community members take the lead in the day-to-day running of the clinic with Northern Health contributing the funding to make sure things run smoothly.
Ebert, who works out of doctor-owned clinic in Vanderhoof, said many young physicians aren't keen on running their own clinic, instead their more focused on being able to do their job and maintain a work-life balance.
"When I talk to new graduates, [financial compensation] usually third or fourth on their list," he said. "Usually it's how much do I have to work? How much holiday time can I have? Do you have locum coverage? And what are your educational programs like?"
Drs. Pieter and Marile Van Zyl, who will be working in the new clinic structure said being in a salaried job makes it easier for them to do their jobs. Marile described the fee-for-service model as a "rat race" and said it's nice they don't have to worry about pushing as many patients as possible through the system.
"We can actually spend time with patients now, rather than just rushing through patients just to get the numbers," her husband added. "I think the patients appreciate that as well. You've got time to examine them, time to go through all their prescriptions and you have time to explain everything to them."
The society is still putting the final touches on its founding documents, but the idea is to have community members rather than local politicians do the work.
"Small towns are all about volunteers and people caring and living the lifestyle," said Ann McCormick, who is sitting on the advisory committee setting which is setting up the society. "That's why we live in small towns. I think when you give ownership, empower people to be in charge, people will be. People always rise to the occasion when you ask them."
Fort St. James Mayor Rob MacDougall is excited about the new society and said Fort St. James may be able to help other communities in the region adapt to the model if it proves successful.
"At one time there was fierce competition with your neighbouring communities," he said. "Now that fierceness has softened somewhat and we work together on common causes."
