Although the pandemic threw a wrench in its plans, the Chatham-Kent Physician Recruitment and Retention Task Force is chugging along.
“The task force was focused to recruitment efforts that were more focused on our current family medicine residents as strong potential candidates,” Co-chair Denise Waddick says. “The task force also developed unique and creative strategies to market practice opportunities in Chatham-Kent with a stronger online presence.”
Waddick says even with fewer in-person recruitment events, three new family doctors set up shop in Chatham-Kent.
“Two of those physicians were recruited to the Chatham-Kent Family Health Team’s Chatham site, where those physicians took over existing practices. We also did recruit a solo family physician to the community who did accept new patients.”
The Ministry of Health has designated Tilbury as an underserviced area, allowing the Tilbury District Family Health Team to recruit new doctors on its own.
Looking ahead to the coming year, Waddick says the task force plans to increase its online presence and expand connections with local medical students, provide mentor support, and work on a retirement succession plan.
The task force was set up in January, following one-time funding of $100,000 from the municipality.
Any further funding has been referred to the 2021 municipal budget process.