Haldimand County's Physician Recruitment Efforts Yield 'Fantastic' Results Ahead of Schedule

Haldimand County's commitment to attracting new doctors has paid off faster than expected, with two new family doctors setting up their permanent practice in the rural municipality within a year. The county, which had committed $360,000 to physician recruitment, aimed to bring in two or three new family doctors by the end of a three-year campaign. However, the recruitment committee, led by the Greater Hamilton Health Network (GHHN), has not only met but exceeded this goal. The two new family doctors, one in Dunnville and another in Caledonia, will provide primary care to nearly 1,400 residents who previously relied on walk-in clinics and emergency departments.

Key Takeaways:

• Haldimand County's physician recruitment efforts have resulted in two new family doctors setting up their permanent practice in the rural municipality within a year, exceeding the expected timeline by two years.
• The two new family doctors, one in Dunnville and another in Caledonia, will provide primary care to close to 1,400 residents who previously relied on walk-in clinics and emergency departments.
• The recruitment committee has also signed up two other doctors to fill "locums," or long-term leaves, at a family practice in Hagersville.
• Haldimand's two hospitals have gained three new doctors for their emergency departments over the past year.
• The county is supporting a U.K.-born family doctor's application for permanent residency in Canada to help him stay at his Caledonia practice.
• Haldimand's efforts to recruit new doctors have been a coordinated effort, with the municipality working with the Greater Hamilton Health Network (GHHN) and the Haldimand Family Health Team.
• The county has not offered cash bonuses to entice doctors, instead marketing the area's rural charms, natural features, and proximity to Hamilton and the Greater Toronto Area.
• Potential recruits are intrigued by the opportunity to split time between a family practice and a hospital setting, with the county emphasizing its appeal to modern family physicians.

Statistics:

• $360,000: The amount committed by Haldimand County to physician recruitment.
• 2: The number of new family doctors setting up their permanent practice in the rural municipality.
• 1,400: The number of residents who previously relied on walk-in clinics and emergency departments but will now have a family doctor.
• 3: The number of new doctors filling locums at a family practice in Hagersville.
• 3: The number of new doctors for the emergency departments at Haldimand's two hospitals over the past year.

Sources:

• J.P. Antonacci, "Haldimand County's efforts to attract new doctors are paying off ahead of schedule," Hamilton Spectator.