Physician recruitment has changed as the world has changed. Physicians can choose to practice anywhere in the world. There are great opportunities for them anywhere they want to practice. In our country many physicians choose to specialize, leaving smaller numbers of physicians who choose to practice as family physicians. It is estimated that while approximately 30% of Canadians live in rural areas, only 17% of family physicians practice in such areas. Furthermore, research indicates that the training and recruiting of physicians is taking on an “urban centric educational paradigm”; medical schools preferentially select students and train them in an urban environment which promotes specialization and research, instilling a mindset for urban practice alone.
So, this an important issues for City Council because I know as an eight year long RHA board member the challenges associated with recruitment and retention of doctors. We are competing with other RHAs and provinces. One of our regional doctors was recently offered a $100,000 bonus if they would take a job offer in Ontario. They said no because of their enjoyment of the quality of life and their family here. Many doctors and their spouses want the same amenities associated with good life in an urban centre. The big deal for most doctors is quality of life, and it’s really a family thing. Thus, Council plays a significant role in recruitment by working alongside the RHA, the Steinbach Chamber of Commerce in pointing out the strengths of our community in terms of its social capital, vibrant downtown business and the unique positive health grade of our region and its close proximity to Winnipeg. All of this speaks to our quality of life. City Council sale /markets Steinbach! The Steinbach Community Health Committee is a great start.
However, because the demand for primary care physicians far exceeds the supply, some healthcare systems are offering primary care physician’s lucrative incentives to join healthcare systems. Many communities are taking a very active role in promoting themselves to physicians who visit for inspection. Local municipalities have also provided financial support to help “sweeten the pot.” Ethically this may pose some problems.
However, recruiting primary care physicians involves more than offering high salaries or generous contract terms. To ensure that a healthcare system has a well-integrated and well-functioning primary care network, City Council must understand physician resource needs in their service area and must work with the RHA to create the types of physician-system partnerships that will fulfill those needs, attract physicians, and develop each physician’s potential as a member of a healthcare system. One such initiative that will attract and retain physicians is the development of Steinbach Primary Health Care Centre using a collaborative care model.
Physicians leave for many reasons, one being the spouse cannot find work in the area. There may be cultural reasons or their family is located elsewhere.
I believe that Council must advocate to government and regulating bodies such as the College of Physicians and Surgeons for the increase use of nurse practitioners. I believe our RHA has three.
