Feature Article March 13, 2002
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Is there a doctor in the house?North Frontenac asksby Will CybulskiLike so many of its counterparts across the province, North Frontenacs Municipal Council is actively considering ways to attract medical services to our community. The solutions arent cheap, if in fact the ultimate goal is even achievable affordably.
There are currently 115 communities with 500 physician vacancies in the same boat, and some people in the know estimate a two-year recruitment process for our township to find a doctor.
A mayoral friend of mine up in northwestern Ontario describes an almost unbelievable attraction package, designed by his municipality to draw a physician to the small, isolated village for a five year commitment: provision of free accommodations and a modern facility, nurse/reception assistants, education subsidies, and substantial monetary compensation as part of the deal. Granted, the nearest hospital is 260 kilometers away, and air medi-vacs are the rule, rather than the exception. The amenities are not what one gets accustomed to in the south, but his is a progressive community that, despite best efforts and tantalizing money, still has difficulty in getting a doctor to live and work there. So what is North Frontenac to do?
In upcoming budget deliberations, Council will look at striking a committee to determine the best approach in selling our area to possible candidates. With the competition that is out there, North Frontenac will have its work cut out to make it appear more appealing and attractive than others.
Some communities are developing promotional videos, attending university job fairs, and paying for education in return for a placement commitment. Future physicians are being courted even before they start formal education or training. Our municipal administration has put a few tentative irons in the fire, examining the potential for under-serviced area funding from the province. Another avenue that is being looked at is the expertise of a professional medical recruitment company.
Like other emergency response providers, such as police, fire or ambulance personnel, the comforting privilege of having a family doctor isnt foremost in peoples minds until the moment he or she is urgently needed. Then, the lack of one becomes a calamity.
Will our municipality have to consider opting for free housing, signing bonuses, or continuing education subsidies as part of the lure to outdo its competitors? With an influx of Baby Boomer retirees to the township, maybe we can find a doctor in there somewhere who would be interested in a part-time practice.
