St Joesph's Hospital is reacting to the news that the Physician Recruitment Agency is becoming a part of the Saskatchewan Health Authority effective Monday, July 23rd. 

"It remains to be seen what kind of improvements that will make," shared Executive Director of the St Joseph's Hospital, Greg Hoffart. "Will the processes change or what their new strategies will be. And I'm sure, like everything else in the new health authority, it will take time. It's a large organization that they are trying to unfold here."

Meanwhile, Hoffarts added that they are doing their best to remain patient and continue to try and recruit doctors.

"I don't see a change in how we presently recruit. We do use the resources of the Physician Recruitment Agency at times when they have physicians available for us to consider. We do some of our own recruiting, we have our own network out and about that is identifying physician opportunities for us. So I don't see big changes coming."

"The important thing to us is that physician recruitment remains a priority with the recruitment agency with the health authority and with the province of Saskatchewan. And all the help that we can get in Estevan is essential and greatly appreciated."

He added that they have seen successes lately with the addition of three physicians recently with three more scheduled to join in the fall.

"It will be an ongoing process for us and hopefully there will be improvements as a result of the consolidation of resources. We look forward to that."

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