At the end of May, two new doctors began practicing in Assiniboia. 

Dr. Joan Odiagah and Dr. Eric Moore are recent graduates of the Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) program, and began working out of Assiniboia May 24, bringing the total number of doctors in the town to three. 

"They're fitting in nicely in the community," said Five Hills Health Region (FHHR) Vice-President of Community Health Services Terry Hutchinson. 

It was welcome news to patients in the Assiniboia area, in addition to management with the FHHR, who admit they are still two shy of having a full roster of 5 physicians for the town (4 working out of the South Country Medical Clinic and Dr. Carulei, a private practice physician). 

"We believe 5 is the optimal number..to service the south country area," explained Hutchinson, who said with more doctors they can return to making regular trips to surrounding communities. "Because we're down a bit now we don't have physicians traveling to Coronach at this time."

"We've got two additional ads out for physicians (and) as soon as we're up to the full complement again we'll provide services to the Coronach area."

"It is difficult to staff some of the rural areas," continued Hutchinson. "We certainly have challenges within Moose Jaw as well..staffing physicians and nurse practitioners. When we move to some of the more rural areas like Assiniboia, we are challenged to go there.  We find as a health region we are challenged to ensure that we have physicians and NPs in those areas.  What we understand from our counterpart health regions in the province, they too find it difficult to attract and retain physicians."

Having said that, Hutchinson is grateful for the SIPPA program, saying that "from both perspectives (physicians and health regions) it works very well."