Rebecca Couture had a challenging past year with her health and credits her family physician, Dr. Allison Morand, for helping her get through it.
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So when the Chatham woman saw the Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) wanted to recognize family doctors who provide outstanding care and dedication to their community, she nominated Morand.
“I can’t think of anyone more deserving of being recognized for her work ethic, her availability, her compassion to her patients,” Couture said.
Working as a secretary in the emergency department at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, Couture had seen Morand work emergency room shifts and was impressed by her bedside manner.
“She really takes the time to talk to patients,” Couture said.
When her family doctor relocated about a decade ago, she was glad Morand took her on as a patient along with her husband and two adult children, who all have their own health issues.
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She finds Morand “works more like a partner” and likes the fact the doctor provides all the relevant information and options “then we kind of make a plan together.”
Couture noted Morand has called her at home on a Friday night to say she has prescribed her a drug due to the result of a test.
“She goes the extra mile.”
Dr. Morand said the effort she puts into getting to know her patients is something instilled by her parents Pauline and Rick Nantais, who raised her “to take time to listen to people, to truly care for people.”
Even when things get hectic, Morand said, “I sometimes I just hear that little voice of my mom in the back of my head, telling me: ‘Take the time, take the pause, listen to what they’re saying.’”
Morand’s bedside manner while working in the ER often results in requests from those she is treating to take them on as a patient.
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Already serving about 1,300 patients, Morand wishes she could take on more, but she also makes maintaining a balance between work and family life a priority.
“I simply can’t take on more (patients) and it’s because if I try to take more, and especially with all the burdens of administrative tasks and forms and everything else that comes with trying to run a practice, I wouldn’t be able to provide that comprehensive care that I want to be able to provide to every single one of my patients,” she said
However, Morand will let ER patients she treats who are in need of an extra test know that they can call her office if it hasn’t been booked and she will help.
“I don’t want people to fall through the cracks, but it is hard, because so many people need a physician,” she said.
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“We have a lot of good physicians around and we simply can’t keep up,” Morand added.
The OCFP, which represents more than 18,000 physicians and medical students, said in a media release more than 750 Ontario family doctors were recognized in response to the question: “Tells us how your family doctor has gone above and beyond for you.”
The college has also heard from many of the 2.5 million Ontarians who do not have a family doctor – and want one.
“Family physicians are the foundation of our health care system, and every Ontarian should have access to one,” said Deepy Sur, CEO of the OCFP in the release. “We can get there by ensuring family physicians have the right supports in the right place to allow them to continue to provide patient care.”
The OCFP is calling on government and healthcare leaders to continue taking steps to prioritize patient care by increasing access to family doctors.
Morand is honored and humbled someone took the time to recognize her.
“It is truly a very humbling profession,” she said. “I love it.”
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