Whitehorse Daily Star

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CLINIC LOSING PHYSICIAN – Patients of the River Valley Medical Clinic have been told they’ll need to find a new doctor because Dr. Shahid Syed will not be practising after Oct. 31.

Clinic recommends patients look for new doctor

The last remaining full-time doctor at a walk-in clinic downtown that serves about 6,000 patients per year will likely have to abandon the practice before the end of the month.

By Whitehorse Star on October 20, 2014

The last remaining full-time doctor at a walk-in clinic downtown that serves about 6,000 patients per year will likely have to abandon the practice before the end of the month.

The departure of Dr. Shahid Syed would leave many of the patients who come through River Valley Medical Clinic each year without a family doctor. It would mean many others already absent a general practitioner would have one less physician to go to unannounced.

The government and the Yukon Medical Council have told Syed — practising in the territory for at least the last five years — that his contract with the territory and his medical licence will not be renewed unless he goes south to pass the Canadian family practice exam with the College of Family Physicians of Canada, a reliable source told the Star Monday.

Syed’s dilemma comes several years after Health and Social Services cancelled its special licence program to lure foreign doctors to the territory, which resulted in multiple physicians leaving the territory.

The department did not return calls in time to answer questions around whether the clinic — owned by a retired physician — is closing and, if not, how many doctors would be rotating through it.

Mike Emslie, 81, said in an interview today he was concerned about the likely loss of his family doctor.

“I’ve been a patient of his ever since he’s been here and I’ve got nothing but good service,” said the 45-year Whitehorse resident. “I’ve found him nothing but excellent. He’s a no-nonsense doctor.”

Emslie, who turns 82 on Thursday and is due for an operation at Whitehorse General Hospital, has been told to find a new doctor. He wondered where the 6,000 “orphaned” patients — 20 per day, six days a week — at River Valley would go.

“There’s going to be a lot of people with no doctor in the community and no hope of getting one,” he said.

Jack Lenz, a lifelong Whitehorse resident, turned to Syed when Pine Medical Clinic temporarily closed in 2013 after Dr. Lis Densmore’s departure left about 2,000 patients looking for physicians.

“I’ve been having trouble trying to find a doctor,” said Lenz, 24. “My concern is there’s going to be temporary doctors (at River Valley) or I’m going to have to find another doctor to go to.

“I’m not used to trying to explain something to someone that I don’t know, especially if it’s my own body. I get more comfortable if it’s someone I know,” he told the Star today.

One week in 2013, when he was “sicker than a dog,” Syed made sure Lenz was taken care of, he added. “He was pretty good, straight forward. He made sure I got the right prescriptions.”

Neither Health and Social Services nor the Yukon Medical Council provided comment by press time this afternoon. Syed also declined comment.

The medical council’s website states: “There is currently a need for family physicians in the Yukon that cannot be met by physicians with a full, unrestricted licence.”

One reason Syed has not taken time out to prepare for and take the required exam is that too many patients would be left in the lurch, a reliable source said in an interview.

On the counter at 106 Lambert, where the clinic is located, sits a petition in support of Syed’s “exemplary service to our community.” It is addressed to Health Minister Doug Graham and sports dozens of names.

“We don’t want to see a different doctor every time we visit. We want to foster a long-term doctor/patient relationship,” the petition reads.

“The health of our families, children and neighbours depend on this!”

Comments (25)

Up 6 Down 10

m on Oct 24, 2014 at 2:51 pm

I went to this clinic twice when I was in between doctors. Waited about 45 minutes to an hour, was herded into a room after being called from a clipboard along with 4 or 5 other patients. We were each directed into a room as the doctor walked down the hall in front of us. After about 5 minutes, my door opened, the doctor walked in and asked what was up. I left with my prescription certainly no more than 4 minutes after that.

Not sure how much the doctor was paid for my 4 minute appointment. I was only there for a prescription so I did not need more than 5 minutes, but I seriously thought this place was like a conveyor belt of patients. Sign in, sit, wait, be called with your herd, sit in your room, state your case, get your prescription, leave promptly.

I believe my pharmacist would have been more capable of knowing my situation and renewing my prescription and that is one thing I suggest for dealing with probably half the people who went to this clinic.

Up 6 Down 1

Not rocket science why HSS screws up Yukon Health Care ... all the time on Oct 24, 2014 at 2:06 pm

The brains that run health care in the Territory are not qualified ... not one has any professional training in health care ... present lot included except one notable exception. The ADMs of Health have been bean counters and the DMs not much better ... lawyers, bean counters and social workers. Nice guy running the hospital ... bean counter. Now go ask yourself why are things in a mess. Why is hard to recruit? Health simply looks at the health professionals in town as the enemy they must vanquish.

Up 24 Down 0

KB on Oct 23, 2014 at 10:15 am

This is very unfortunate. I have also been through 3 doctors at River Valley Medical Clinic. After Dr. Syed leaves I'm not sure where I'm supposed to go.

Up 23 Down 3

Haq on Oct 23, 2014 at 8:46 am

Can somebody tell me why is Dr. Syed being forced to close his practice for not taking this "optional" exam when the fact is that there are several doctors currently practicing in Yukon who have not written this elective exam as well?

Up 22 Down 6

yukonlinda on Oct 22, 2014 at 2:31 pm

I have been through three family doctors at River Valley Medical in the last 12 years, including Dr. Syed. All three of them have been excellent doctors who have seen me through a wealth of problems, including a cancer diagnoses. All three have been pushed out for the same reasons. I realize that these licensing tests must be taken, but also know that these doctors have been through years of university, like our Canadian doctors have, and have been licensed in other countries. These doctors wouldn't be here for even three or five years to begin with if they weren't qualified.
I hear that the written language barrier and the time needed to study and overcome that, while still trying to do the best for your patients, are the biggest hurdles to overcome. I asked Dr. Syed one day how he managed to work so hard, and such long hours when he has young children at home, and he responded by telling me that when he chose to become a doctor he wanted to help people, and he said that to him that means working 12 hours a day, not spending half the year on vacation (which in my opinion most of our top notch Canadian doctors seem to do).

Up 15 Down 20

another lawsuit waiting to happen on Oct 22, 2014 at 12:07 pm

I bet everyone who is saying how awesome of a doctor he is would change their tune if they were mis-diagnosed and THEN found out he wasn't fully certified. They'd be the first in there trying to sue him.

I agree that it's sad that we are losing a doctor. 6000 patients probably isn't totally accurate as it IS a walk-in so anyone who has ever walked in would have a file there, even if they were just there once. But, we do have standards for a reason. I bet he gets holiday time and no one complains (well they probably do, let's be honest) so why not take the time off to do the test.

Up 9 Down 19

Why not be qualified on Oct 21, 2014 at 7:34 pm

I have doctors in my family over the years and they have had to study hard and past all the requirements of our medical license to become doctor to practice. Because of a storage of doctors we don't let doctors from other countries come in that have not met our medical requirements to practice medicine. Without fulfilling the requirement of Canadian doctors and pass the same requirements as Canadian doctors is dangerous. I have seen doctors in other regions who do not have the education of doctors in Canada. This is putting Canadian people at risk so the government has to do what is best for Yukoner's. It is difficult to make decisions of this nature but in the interest of Yukoner's we have to look after our people health.

Up 23 Down 7

Thelma Piercey on Oct 21, 2014 at 5:49 pm

Who cares how many patients he see's per day or year! He has been taking good care of me for the last few years. He is a good doctor and an excellent listener. I would recommend him any day. This government needs to pay more attention to the needs of the people they are supposed to be serving and quit nit picking.

Up 14 Down 14

patientzero on Oct 21, 2014 at 5:40 pm

It sounds like this doc was loved by his patients, and provided a much needed service. Why hasn't he done his exam? Certification exists for a reason, and if he's as competent as he sounds it shouldn't be a problem for him to pass. Would anyone trust a pilot to fly just because she seemed to know what she was doing? Not likely. This is by no means the fault of HSS

Up 33 Down 7

Muhammad Idrees on Oct 21, 2014 at 2:48 pm

Dr Syed is our family physician since he started his practice here in Yukon. I found him very experienced, knowledgeable and competent doctor. I don't know why he is not being allowed to practice. I know few other doctors who have not passed the exam are practicing. Is it not a dual standard? I don't know how we will find another family doctor.

Up 35 Down 6

Billy on Oct 21, 2014 at 2:00 pm

Yukon already has such a low amount of doctors and now they're forcing one of our best doctors to leave? This is insane. Dr. Syed is one of the only doctors that actually cares about the patient. Yukon's Medical Association is a complete joke. They always talk about how they have a shortage of doctors and then they start kicking them out one by one. And what is going to happen to his 6000 patients? They don't care..

Up 32 Down 4

Common sense on Oct 21, 2014 at 1:56 pm

Dr. Shoestary ( spelling ) had to leave his walk in clinic to write this exam in 2011. I had issues going on and I needed a Dr. to get thru my situation. Many family Drs. were not taking new patients & finally Dr Sally McDonald helped. Awesome Dr. but now she has retired. Dr. Syed was my next option, and has been great, I hope he will consider to write and will see him in the future because he is a person that listens and cares, unlike some.

Up 29 Down 7

S.Sandhu on Oct 21, 2014 at 1:39 pm

Dr Shahid Syed is our family doctor. He is very much knowledgeable, and competent doctor. We always feel very much satisfied after seeing this doctor. The Govt. should help all of his patients by giving him extension to get the licence. Yukon is lucky to have him here as a family physician and this will be unfortunate to let him go.

Up 21 Down 10

EL YUK on Oct 21, 2014 at 12:53 pm

The Canadian medical exam is a bunch of b**ls**t, held by people often with bad language skills, and arbitrary to the examiner's liking

Up 10 Down 10

francias pillman on Oct 21, 2014 at 12:23 pm

Joella. I am a patient of his. So eat your words please.

Up 22 Down 26

Michelle on Oct 21, 2014 at 6:31 am

He hasn't passed Canadian medical exam standards. Period.

Up 19 Down 8

Edward on Oct 21, 2014 at 6:22 am

They should get another doctor to take over the clinic before they force the present doctor out.

Up 41 Down 8

bobbybitman on Oct 20, 2014 at 10:36 pm

Wait a minute. This guy was handling 6000 patients? That is 1/6th of the population of the Yukon! Does this seem strange to anyone else?

Up 22 Down 7

James on Oct 20, 2014 at 10:26 pm

Dr. Sayed will be sorely missed. He has been my GP since he got here and is an excellent and thorough medical professional. H&SS needs to be more than paper pushers dotting their i's and have a look around at the health of the city... or maybe they have and there's not enough of their complicit ill will to justify their position so they have to make it harder on folks.

Up 17 Down 10

joella on Oct 20, 2014 at 10:25 pm

Pillman it's obvious you're not a frequenter of that clinic. Preparing for, and taking that exam doesn't mean just a day or two absent. Maybe if some of the other docs in the region would spend a day at the clinic to help out, he would have time to do the exam. Oh wait, that would mean being absent from their own practices for a day. I can hear their patients' complaints now.

Up 22 Down 8

Daphne Privett on Oct 20, 2014 at 7:37 pm

It is very hard for me to read this knowing that Doctor Syed will be leaving. I don't understand why this is happening to him. I have a lot of medical problems and I have been in and out of Doctors. I started out at the family practice unit with Dr Anne Williams. She retired and I was given another at the same Family Practice Unit then this doctor left the Yukon. I was going around looking and looking for a Doctor because I need attention for my problems.

Then I was told about RiverValley and went over there for pop in and right away I got a Doctor. It was first Doctor Vostretsov then he gets up and leaves.
There were times when that doctor wasn't there and Doctor Syde had to take in his patients like myself.

He was a very good Doctor and he was always very caring about his patients. I felt very comfortable with him. He was the first Doctor after Anne Williams retired I have felt comfortable around. You knew he really cared. The other Doctors got up and left the Yukon. He had all of us to take care of and he did it all. 6000 of us. So now can you please tell me where I am to go to see a Doctor? Now this it not right and I believe you are all making a big mistake because we will all end up over at the Hospital at the emergency again and with the overload over there, we will just be sent home. So what are we going to do? You tell me.

Up 27 Down 25

June Jackson on Oct 20, 2014 at 6:30 pm

Personally, I don't want to see a match-book doctor.. and until they have passed the exams that determine their level of knowledge, that is all they are.
If you don't need to be licensed in western medicine, any one of us can hang out a shingle. People who are trained in other countries do not have the same level of competence that a westerner expects.

Everyone has an 'unhappy' doctor story, someone who called your brain tumor a ear ache, someone who said there isn't anything where you have pain, completely ignoring the 8 cm growth, the cold that is pneumonia.. everyone has something, but at the very least, I know when I see a Canadian licensed physician that person speaks English and understands what I am saying.

Yeah.. its my health, I set my expectations and standards on a westernized plan of care. It's important to me to have confidence in my physician. That means, well educated and documented.
Someone else said there is more to this story than meets the eye.. how long has Dr. Syed had to obtain Canadian documentation?

Up 23 Down 9

Max Mack on Oct 20, 2014 at 6:13 pm

By now, it should be obvious to everyone that the Yukon Government and the Yukon Medical Council is not competent to deal with the pressing doctor shortage in the territory despite the vast sums of money they throw at doctors.

This problem has been acute for . . . what? . . . two decades now? At least?

Dr. Sayed offers the only walk-in clinic in Whitehorse. What happens after he is gone?

Up 44 Down 15

Cathy on Oct 20, 2014 at 4:08 pm

What a shame, Doctor Syed is a great doctor, he will be missed when he leaves.

Up 40 Down 35

francias pillman on Oct 20, 2014 at 3:55 pm

What's a peition going to do? He obiously had lots of time to do the exam. But for reasons that I don't know, hasn't done it. Why? Again there is always alot more to a story than we are told.

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