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Physician recruitment has a good prognosis By Liz Dadson |
Kincardine council To Comment on this article Click Here |
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James Scongack of Bruce Power The future of physician recruitment in Kincardine and Saugeen Shores looks promising, especially with the two communities joining forces with Bruce Power and its new full-time recruiter, Peggy Zeppieri. Zeppieri and James Scongack of Bruce Power were at the August meeting of Kincardine council to bring an update on what was happening with doctor recruitment. The partnership between Bruce Power and the two municipalities has brought $500,000 in funding (for 2010-2012) from the nuclear generating company to support the effort. This, alone, allows Kincardine and Saugeen Shores to better compete in what is a very competitive arena for doctors, said Scongack. Working together also means better integration with Bruce Power spousal employment opportunities and puts both municipalities in a better position to sell the entire region. Zeppieri was hired in the spring and has developed a website and a series of promotional materials showing why this region is the most attractive rural area in Canada for a doctor to practise medicine. A newspaper advertisement was launched in Newfoundland to attract doctors here because many are interested in relocating to central Canada. With funding from Bruce Power, Zeppieri and her team are able to make a significant presence at key conferences in Canada and the United States, including the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians in Montreal, and McMaster Research Day in Hamilton/Burlington. In September they will attend the American College of Emergency Physicians in Las Vegas and later in the fall, they will travel to North Bay, London, Sudbury and Vancouver. "We're in the minority for medium-sized communities to be able to do this," said Scongack. "It takes some resources to participate in these forums." Through these co-ordinated and well-resourced activities, this initiative has allowed the recruiter and her team to compete for physicians in a significant way - one of the most aggressive recruitment efforts in rural Ontario, said Scongack.
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"A significant amount of follow-up has taken place with hundreds of potential physicians - a combination of short- and long-term prospects," he said. "A database of more than 600 potential contacts has been developed." Zeppieri said Kincardine has seen two new doctors arrive this summer - Dr. Rejean Dewyn and Dr. John Engle. Next summer, another doctor plans to retire so Zeppieri has already contacted a new graduate who would be available. That doctor is coming for a site visit in September. "With the new clinic almost completed, we're still sorting a few things out and getting organized," she said. "Once things are settled, we'll look at a long-term plan for recruitment and retention of doctors."Deputy mayor Laura Haight asked how big a role the financial incentive plays in getting doctors to come to Kincardine. "There are other factors," said Scongack. "We work with the prospects where their needs are. It could be more important to find housing for them, or for their spouse to find a job. We have the distinct advantage of our location by the lake and our many tourist attractions." He said the hospitals in Kincardine and Southampton (Saugeen Shores) have different requirements, so the separate needs are addressed when doctors are being recruited. For instance, a doctor from Chicago was interested in coming to Southampton and working in the emergency room. There are also doctors in Quebec who want to move to Ontario. Zeppieri added that there are many Canadian medical students in the United States whom they are encouraging to move back to Canada and practise. Councillor Randy Roppel asked how a possible hospital expansion or new hospital affects physician recruiting. "It's an accepted thing in both Kincardine and Saugeen Shores that an obvious incentive would be to have newer hospitals," said Scongack. "We've tried to recruit physicians based on the situation today, and how they would work with the existing physicians. We focus on the things we can control." Council thanked Scongack and Zeppieri for the update.
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