27,000 patients affected by closure of Oshawa medical clinic

OSHAWA, ON, Aug. 27, 2012 /CNW/ - Dr. Adrian Pettyan is retiring, but staff at his medical clinic may be excused for not taking up a collection to buy him a gift.

Pettyan is closing the busy Oshawa medical clinic, disrupting access to primary care for about 27,000 patients in the community and costing the jobs of at least 15 recently unionized certified medical office assistants who were given notice of termination late last week.

Seven family doctors work out of the clinic. Two have already announced they are relocating to the Glazier Medical Centre. Pettyan's medical health care clinic also offers a walk-in clinic, massage therapy, psychotherapy and has hosted Dr. Pettyan's chiropractic practice, which he has been preparing to hand over to another doctor.

"Most people try and leave a positive legacy when they retire," says Warren (Smokey) Thomas, president of the 130,000 member Ontario Public Service Employees Union which represents the office assistants. "Dr. Pettyan appears to have left a significant gap in the city's primary care services and has shown indifference to the workers he is abandoning."

A terse one paragraph notice at the clinic tells patients to speak to their respective medical/health care practitioner to ensure continuity of care after October 2012.

Pettyan is not offering any severance to employees who work out their notice period. Some assistants have worked as long as six years at the clinic.

The notice of closure is taking place just weeks after Dr. Laura Musat joined the clinic. Dr. Musat recently posted a notice saying she is accepting new patients.

Health Force Ontario had been working with Dr. Pettyan to find physicians for his clinic, according the Local Health Integration Network.

Despite his retirement, there is no notice of closure for TSR Rehab, the seven-clinic chain he operates across Ontario, the head office located upstairs from the Medical Clinic.

Pettyan also has written to his own chiropractic patients telling them he will practice until November and that Dr. Amanda Church will begin seeing his patients in August.

The Medical Clinic is located within the Oshawa Health Centre at the corner of Adelaide and Simcoe Streets.

SOURCE: Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)

Rick Janson, 416-443-8888 ext 8383 or 416-525-3324 (cell)