Given Ontario’s current physician shortage and the high number of “orphaned” patients, the enthusiastic reaction to word that a new doctor was coming to town is no surprise.
The applause from our own staff and the explosion of interest on social media to news that Dr. Sean Godfrey is joining Five Counties Children’s Centre as a consulting pediatrician isn’t surprising. As a children’s treatment centre, anything that boosts care for our kids is worth celebrating.
While Dr. Godfrey’s arrival here is not a cure-all to what ails pediatric care in our region, his presence is a dose of good news.
Pediatricians are doctors who specialize and focus on the health of infants, children, and youth, but these medical experts are few and far between.
At Five Counties, we’ve been extremely fortunate to have our long-time pediatrician and former medical director Dr. Mary Thain continue to work diagnosing and assessing children for autism spectrum disorder.
As Dr. Thain keeps up this important work, securing the services of another well-respected and highly-regarded pediatrician like Dr. Godfrey is an added bonus.
VIDEO: Welcome to Dr. Sean Godfrey
“Five Counties has a wonderful reputation for what it does for families in this region, and I look forward to contributing to that success,” says Dr. Godfrey, who brings 25-plus years of experience in hospital and community settings helping children and adolescents with a wide range of physical and developmental needs.
Based on the arrangement with Five Counties, Dr. Godfrey will spend about one-quarter of his time seeing our kids and clients at our centre locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, and Cobourg. The partnership will provide quicker access to care for Five Counties kids — especially those who need the specialized services of a consulting pediatrician.
It also fits the centre’s long history of collaborating with others and our strategic aim “to innovate and explore alternative methods to address the needs of our families that reduces wait times.”
The remainder of Dr. Godfrey’s time will be spent seeing and supporting children and families from across our region — Peterborough, Northumberland, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton — at the private medical practice he is establishing at our Five Counties site in Peterborough.
Referrals from doctors and nurse practitioners will be required, although — knowing that many families do not have a primary care provider — families can call Dr. Godfrey’s practice directly at 705-745-1313 to inquire about a self-referral.
Having a private practice within a community setting is nothing new for Dr. Godfrey, as it provides him independence and a chance to work directly with families.
“In both situations, it’s a joy to see kids flourish and grow to reach their full potential,” he notes.
Five Counties echoes the sentiment. With the recent launch of our SmartStart Hub online referral form, enhancements to our provincial funding, and the new partnership with Dr. Godfrey, we will be able to help more kids and families get timely, life-changing care close to home.
You might say it’s just what the doctor ordered.
