The Vitalité health network lost two oncologists at the end of July.
Both are from the Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Center in Moncton.
Dr Frans Derosier, president and CEO of Vitalité, said about 775 patients were affected.
The names of the two doctors have not been released. But Desrosiers said patients affected would be contacted in a few days or weeks, depending on the degree of urgency. Some patients are already in contact.
Desrosiers said the network is working to ensure that patient care is not disrupted.
She said the team will review all patient records in a short period of time with current specialists to determine which is the best care provider to compare them with.
Dr Frans Derosier, president and CEO of Vitalité Health Network, said efforts were being made to ensure that patients’ treatment was not compromised. (Radio Canada / Francois Vigno)
“No matter who their specialist is, we will contact them in the coming days, in the coming weeks and announce the name of the new specialist who will take care of them,” Derosier said in an interview in French on Monday.
Dr Mark McMillan, president of the New Brunswick Medical Society, said in a statement that the loss of the two doctors was a “worrying development” and “spoke of the importance of recruiting and retaining doctors”.
“[We] will work with Vitalité and the Ministry of Health to find new candidates for these vacancies and to address the short-term challenges that the loss of these specialists will lead to the hospital’s oncology department, “the statement said.
Vitalité has family doctors who specialize in oncology at Dumont and four satellite centers – Edmundston, Campbellton, Bathurst and Caraquet. Everyone works in teams.
Some patients, depending on their situation, will be redirected to their local satellite location.
Others will be examined by another specialist in Dumont, according to their treatment.
Other options are being considered
Vitalité is also considering possible cooperation with other oncology centers that could care for certain patients, without compromising the quality or nature of their care.
Horizon Network is one of the options.
“Horizon and Vitalité have held preliminary discussions on this issue and we are mutually committed to remaining closely involved in the development of the situation,” said Greg Doyron, Horizon’s vice president of clinical operations, in an email.
“We hope that by working together, we will be able to come up with creative solutions that will help mitigate the impact on cancer patients receiving care from these two specialists.”
The network also plans to step up its efforts to recruit new professionals.
“We are always actively recruiting for the oncology department, because this is a department that is very active,” Derosier said.
“The demand for oncological treatment, oncological diagnostics is growing and we predict that it will grow in the coming years.
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