Contract dispute with Regina radiologists will not impact services: Health region

Regina radiologists are officially without a contract as an ongoing dispute continues with the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region.

In May, the health region said it notified the Radiology Associates of Regina (RAR) it would be terminating its "implied contract" as of Dec. 1. The health region said "there was no written contract in place for this work, though one was implied."

Radiologists provide a range of medical imaging services, which include interpreting digital scans like X-rays and MRIs. This work is done in-hospital and in the community. 

I think patients should be concerned. They should be concerned because this is becoming an increasing hostile environment.- Dr. Andrea Gourgaris

On Monday, Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region (RQHR) President and CEO Keith Dewar said the discussions have been difficult because RAR expects they should be given exclusive rights to in-hospital work.

"We can't seem to get beyond that," Dewar said. "Do we work with the radiologists as a group of radiologists or do we work with a single business group."

Dewar said a sole source contract is "about $15 million worth of work."

Regina Radiologist Dr. Andrea Gourgaris said hospitals are run by a "group" radiology practice for a reason.

"Because we don't all do the same work, we're able to offset one another and form a complete synergy and being able to offer any type of treatment or care a patient requires when they walk through the door," Gourgaris said. "One single radiologist can't provide that."

Gourgaris said they will fight to keep the group practice model so that Regina does not lose any more highly specialized radiologists. 

She is hoping for her patients' safety that she is not locked out by the health authority.

"I think patients should be concerned. They should be concerned because this is becoming an increasing hostile environment. We are losing radiologists at the fastest rate Regina has ever seen," Gourgaris said.

According to Gourgaris, Regina has lost six radiologists to other cities over the past 20 months. 

While Dewar said people leave their jobs for a lot of different reasons, he does understand the stress created by such disputes.

"It would be fair to say that obviously this type of discussion doesn't make it a very ... it makes it an uncomfortable environment for people. So we understand that."

"We do agree though that the compensation and the work environment needs to be such that we can attract and retain really good quality radiologists and other physicians."

This weekend, Regina Radiologists posted a full-page advertisement in the Leader-Post and StarPhoenix newspapers. The ad said "hospital bureaucrats are threatening to terminate radiologists with no plan to deliver radiologists services to patients in our region."

Dewar said it has not terminated any radiologists and does not plan to. The health region also said there haven't been any changes "to the compensation they get paid for their work."