Doctor retention in rural Saskatchewan has been a problem in past years. A new program created in 2011 is making sure that problem stays in the past. Currently there are no available openings for physician's within the Heartland Health Region which is good news for the region.

The Saskatchewan International Physician Practice Assessment (SIPPA) assesses the readiness of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) to practice family medicine in Saskatchewan. This program is open to family physicians. SIPPA is offered three times per year, with 24 spots each session –typically in January, May and September.

The program consists of two parts:
1. Centralized Assessment - orientation and examination. The centralized assessment is approximately 3 weeks in length and includes topics of; history taking, communication, critical thinking and the practice of Family Medicine in Canada. Exams include; OSCES, EPAK (MCQ) and therapeutics.

2. Clinical Field Assessment – only those who are successful in the Centralized Assessment move forward to the Clinical Field Assessment which is 6 or 12 weeks in length. It encompasses a global review of practice to cover communication skills, information gathering, learning techniques, prescribing, case management, and readiness for independent practice.

Candidates selected for SIPPA are:
• Required to fulfill a three-year return of service to the Province of Saskatchewan;
• Provided access to online preparation materials;
• Provided accommodation for the duration of the orientation and assessment;
• Provided an honorarium while participating in SIPPA; and
• Strongly advised to come without family as this is an assessment program designed for an individual person and accommodations are for one.

West Central Online spoke with Greg Ottenbreit, the Minister of Rural and Remote Health about the program and some of the successes the program has achieved. He noted almost 200 doctors have come to Saskatchewan via the program. 14 SIPPA doctors are currently practicing in Davidson, Unity, Rosetown, Kindersley, Outlook and Macklin. Greg also said they have around a 92% retention rate among doctors practicing through the program.