Doctor recruitment and retention continues to pose challenges in Fort Frances.
The town still remains short three general practitioners and two general practitioner anaesthetists.
The community will also likely lose two more doctors in the spring, according to doctor recruitment and retention committee member Coun. Wiedenhoeft.
Across northern Ontario, there is a physician shortage of 55 doctors.
However, the town’s physician recruiter, Todd Hamilton, is in contact with up to 10 physicians in training or practice that are interested in coming to Fort Frances.
Hamilton attended the Health Force Ontario Northwest Recruitment Forum in Thunder Bay in mid-September where they covered the challenges that communities in the north and northwest are facing in terms of doctor shortages.
Forum attendees shared success stories and best practices for recruitment and retention.
“There was some discussion of a regional collaboration and signing a non-competitive pledge among the recruiters but Todd indicated this is a very difficult thing to do in a very competitive market,” Coun. Weidenhoeft remarked.
“It was also noted that the northwest is experiencing the most acute physician recruitment challenges in the entire province.”
