​Kincardine urged to review need for more space at Hawthorne Community Clinic

Space is limited at the Hawthorne Community Clinic, which sits just east of the Kincardine Hospital, and Kincardine council is being urged to review how to accommodate the required number of doctors to facilitate future growth of this community.

That’s the word from strategic initiatives manager Lorie Fioze who brought an information report to council at its meeting Wednesday night (Jan. 22).

Fioze said the municipality owns the medical clinic, located on property that belongs to the South Bruce Grey Health Centre which operates the hospital. The municipality has a 100-year lease with the health centre for this arrangement.

She said the municipality rents the facility to three tenants: the Kincardine Family Health Organization (also known as the Kincardine Physicians Group) which occupies the top floor; the Kincardine Family Health Team which is on the lower floor; and McKechnie Pharmacy which occupies part of the lower floor.

The municipality provides incentives to recruit new physicians and retain existing physicians. Currently, there are 10 doctors who each pay rent at a reduced lease cost as part of the Physician Recruitment and Retention Program, as well as receiving a variety of supports to generally provide a turn-key operation for their private practices.

The current physicians make up the Kincardine Family Health Organization, with 14,500 attached patients, said Fioze. Estimates show another possible 3,000 unattached people are without a family doctor. It is estimated that at least 16 physicians are needed to serve the current population, work in the hospital emergency room, and provide hospital inpatient coverage.

This does not factor in population growth, said Fioze. It is anticipated that growth will increase the need for family physicians and will add extra pressure on the space needs at the clinic.

The family health team has additional staff, including nurse practitioners, dietitians, social workers, and occupational therapists. The health team has identified additional space needs.

Mike and Natalie McKechnie rent space for their pharmacy business. The lease is up for renewal and the owners have requested a new 10-year lease.

Fioze recommended the municipality hire an architect to review the clinic, the space required for future growth, and accessibility requirements.

Physician recruiter Chrystel Murphy told council that each of the 10 physicians has an office and two exam rooms. Currently, there is space to accommodate 13 doctors, with other medical professionals also using the exam rooms.

“When we reach a total of 13 physicians, we will be using all the exam rooms and sharing office space,” she said, adding that new physicians are assigned an office but not exam rooms which are shared.

“We need to look at the efficiency and effectiveness of the clinic,” said councillor Bill Stewart. “After 4 p.m. and on the weekends, it’s closed. The doctors work the eight- or nine-to-four shift. We should look at the agreements we have with the doctors and the hospital obligations.”

Mayor Kenneth Craig said that staff could get that information for council.

“We could possibly use the Underwood Community Centre as a clinic for people in the north end of the municipality, like Ripley does,” said Stewart.

During closed session, council was set to discuss: “A position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on, or to be carried on, by, or on behalf of, the municipality or local board (lease at Hawthorne Community Clinic).