Officials at Grey Bruce Health Services plan to make the pathology department a major focus over the next couple of months.
The hospital is losing a pathologist in September as Doctor Ken Newell has accepted a job in Kingston.
It follows the departure of Doctor Barry Sawka in February after diagnostic errors.
That leaves only Doctor Brian Rudrick as the Chief of Pathology — but Vice President of Strategic Planning Maureen Solecki says they are getting help.
Doctor Donna Battaglia started Monday as a pathologist on an interim basis.
Solecki notes they have also recruited two full time pathologists but they won’t begin in Owen Sound until July 2009.
Solecki says they are looking at other options to support the department.
That includes sending work to other pathology services and recruiting for new doctors more aggressively.
Ideally, Solecki says they would like to have four pathologists.
Solecki says their loss is Kingston’s gain as they appreciate Doctor Newell’s dedication to excellence and they are sorry to see him go.
Solecki adds Doctor Rudrick has received several calls of support from colleagues around the province after the news broke about Doctor Sawka’s errors.
