"Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, February 8, 2000 - 3 Head of interns' association addresses Ag Society Doctor discusses future of health care in Ontario By Heather McCrae "You farmers need a health care system that is How can d b Pont pe ki nearby and suits your needs," he told members of the an doctors be enticed to work in rural areas? ¢,joty "It has to understand the reality of being a What are the implications of health care reform? What farmer in the community and understand how you are the problems facing doctors today? } need a health care system to protect, help and heal These questions and more were examined the farming community." Saturday night at the Port Perry Agricultural Society's He said his involvement in PAIRO is an important annual general meeting by Dr. Josh Tepper. Currently part of the career he has chosen. working as a resident physician in Port Perry, Dr. "We are the new physicians, 2,500 of us who will Tepper is also President of the Provincial Association become your new doctors. We want very much to work of erms and Residents of Ontario PMR and live in a community that has a good health care € many rural communities have trouble attract- system. We also want a community that believes in, ing doctors, the problem is as acute in Port Perry, he and supports, the health care system," Dr. Tepper sai X said. "Port Perry is unique. It has done strategically well luring doctors, better than any other community in the province of Ontario", Dr. Tepper said. Dramatic changes in health care policies have occurred over the years, he said. Years ago physicians had to take two years of university before starting the four years of medical school, followed by a year of additional training before obtaining their licence to practice. Now young doctors must put in four years of uni- versity, another four years of medical school and then, at the very minimum, three more years of training. Doctors can spend as many as 15 years training before establishing a practice, said Dr. Tepper. They're also facing rising costs for obtaining an education, he said. ¢ Medicine has changed a lot over the years, too. Dr. Tepper said that early on in medical school he was told everything he learned would be obsolete in five years. "The turnover of medical knowledge is huge," he said. "The technology that we use, the CAT scan, MRI, and others are real players in the system now." Technology also plays another important role in medicine. The Internet is being used more and more by doctors seeking answers and advice, he said. And there are more participants in the health care system, said Dr. Tepper. Now there are chiropractors, occupational therapists, dieticians, diabetic educa- tors, podiatrists and more. "The number of players in the health care system has changed tremendously, and that has caused a huge impact on the delivery of health care in the province," said Dr. Tepper. And as the population ages, there are requirements for the health care system to change. "For the most part, people use 80 per cent of their health care dollars in the later stages of their life," said Dr. Tepper. 'Port Perry 1s unique. It has done well lur- ing doctors, better than any other community in the province' -Dr. Josh Tepper 71 T0 member of er AY) (ROK $ Ontario Crafts Council ~ Lake Scugog Studio Tour participant N gh The Lc 8 Ou r STAINED GLASS CLASSES | , Beginner & Advanced Na Wi nter Leaded & Foil Panels, Lamp Making, Mosaics angi . - daytime & evening classes available with a limited enrollment of 8 or less per class i i % ; Clea rance REGISTRATION DEADLINE FEB. 14/2000 136 RIVER ST., SEAGRAVE (905) 985-2945 - | Ea Continues | DURHAM COUNSELLING SERVICES OUNSELLING FOR Families & Individuals Specializing In: ® Step Families ® Relationships ® Abuse Counselling BY (7) i ii, | 2 pr i ® Children & Teens BY Nd NN A : a ae \ " o Depression for . cis oy ) ) {ON 0 /85,Queen Staeet, Port Pern VINE REPAPA AN up lo 00% off selected items e Doupe Office in Port Perry as well as Lindzay i | AP BUNSEN POUND GUAT P GP UGROP BORG GUNA P GUNA Pg gong gyms I. 0 ET GE I