Morning Read: Doctor shortage worsens in Massena

I’m going to experiment with a new feature on the In Box in the weeks ahead, so give feedback if you have thumbs-up or -down.

Basically, I’m going to try to flag one important read from a media source in the North Country every morning.

We’ll start with a Watertown Daily Times article, with a report from Massena on the departure of two more doctors.  Recruiting and retaining physicians has become a challenge across the region.

“We’re obviously very sorry to see both of them leave,” MMH Chief Executive Officer Charles F. Fahd II said.

“Not only because they’re both fine physicians, but they’re leaving relatively close together and it’s always difficult, as we have become aware of over the years, to recruit new physicians to the north country.”

The vacancies will leave two general surgeons, only one of which is on call at night, and one gastroenterologist in Massena.

Mr. Fahd said the new vacancies will likely put strain on the remaining doctors who provide the same services as Dr. Daye and Dr. Shah.

“There’s a possibility that they don’t have enough time during the day to see all the patients that want to see them,” Mr. Fahd said.

Read the full article here.