The doctor is out: Why one small town was forced to shut down its emergency room

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A doctor shortage forced the emergency department in small-town Thessalon, Ont., to lock its doors for 48 hours. After “exhausting all options,” the North Shore Health Network said it had no choice but shut the place down for two full days — leaving locals with nowhere to go in case of emergency. Sadly, the situation in Thessalon is not unique. Rural communities across Ontario are struggling to staff their hospitals. This week on Inside the Village, Frisco and Scott speak with Tim Vine, the CEO of the North Shore Health Network, to find out how things got so dire — and if there’s a cure in sight. Also on the podcast: a touching reunion between a firefighter and a man he saved 10 years earlier.