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By Tiffany Goodwein

Options available for expectant mothers as maternity clinic closes July 15

Jun 15, 2021 | 5:56 PM

MEDICINE HAT-AB, A number of family physicians have stepped up to the plate to help with prenatal care, after it was announced the Family Medicine Maternity Care Clinic would be closing, after funding negotiations failed earlier this year.

“ We have several community physicians that are willing to take on a bigger share of prenatal care, so that’s nice. We have one clinic, Badlands Prenatal and Medical Clinic that will be taking on a bulk of the pre-natal care, so for most patients, all they need to do is go to their family doctor and their family doctor will point them in the right direction,” said Dr. Gerry Prince, director of family medicine and maternity clinic.

Right now, according to Prince, there are six physicians dedicated to delivering babies, and 14 family physicians helping with prenatal care. A challenge, according to Dr. Prince is late prenatal care which Badlands Prenatal and Medical Clinic, under Dr. Jenny Duke will handle a majority of patients.

The shift will be a change for both expectant mothers and physicians.

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“For the patients it will be a little different experience, they won’t get to meet most of the patients that might deliver their baby. So it will be a little different for the patients, and the physicians because the physicians won’t have the exposure or familiarity to get to know the patients that well. But we have the confidence that our prenatal doctors in the community will be able to provide good care,” Dr. Prince said.

The Palliser Primary Care Network has been helping in the transition by providing training. A prenatal nurse, has also been hired that will be shared among the doctors.

With the Family Medicine Maternity Care clinic closing, Dr. Prince worries that could impact the recruitment and retention of obstetricians to the city. Currently the city is dealing with a shortage in specialty obstetricians.

“They are always looking to recruit and draw more resources to the community but, right now that is a difficult thing to do, it is hard to find bodies to come,” he said.

Dr. Aaron Low, Zone Medical Director said they are actively recruiting for obstetricians in the city And while difficulties may occur in recruitment as a result of the closure, it will be the same across the province as Medicine Hat and Brooks are the only cities with a Family Medicine Maternity Care Clinic that is supported by AHS.

“ What’s happening in Medicine Hat is going to be no different than what has been happening in Lethbridge, or Red Deer or Grande Prairie or Calgary or Edmonton,” he said.

The maternity clinic has been in the city for 17 years. It is will be closed to patients as of July 15, 2021, according to AHS.