It’s back to square one in the Hanover and District Hospital’s search for a physician assistant for its E-R department.
The Hospital has abandoned plans to hire a foreign doctor under the international medical graduate program to fill its new physician assistant position in the E-R
This after the Hospital newest physician assistant hire has backed out before even starting the job.
This is the third time this has happened.
Instead, the Hospital is only going to take applications from those who have completed the physician assistant program.
Hanover had been selected by the province to participate in a two year pilot project in which a physician assistant would be staffed in the E.R. to perform preliminary triaging and assessment work for doctors.
While it is a relatively new concept in Ontario hospitals, physician assistants have played a key role in the Canadian Forces and American hospitals.
Because of the Hospitals difficulty filling the position — the Province is extending its March 1st deadline to have the physician assistant in place.
The two year pilot project will now begin as soon as the Hospital has the position filled.
The Hospital will begin the interview process soon.