Town offering more to attract new doctors

FORT FRANCES—Just in time for a physician recruitment tour to be conducted by local representatives next month, town council approved an enhanced physician recruitment incentive package presented at its regular meeting Monday night.
The direction to review the incentive package came forward at the July 28 council meeting, after which time the Administration and Finance executive committee tweaked it before bringing it forward Monday.
Coun. Sharon Tibbs explained the town hasn’t updated its incentive package since 2004 and needed a revision prior to next month’s tour.
She added the changes try to promote the lifestyle Fort Frances and the area can offer professionals who come here.
According to the revised package, the town will offer a direct monetary payment of $5,000 upon completion of one year of practice within the Town of Fort Frances, and $10,000 upon completion of the second-consecutive year.
They’ll also offer a “quality of life” package, with which the physician and their spouse will have their choice of any or all of the following items during the first two years of practice in Fort Frances:
•golf membership (Kitchen Creek or Heron Landing);
•Memorial Sports Centre membership;
•Fort Frances Curling club membership;
•“tour de Fort” passport;
•boat slip;
•snowmobile trail permit;
•fishing licence; and
•three guest passes to the International Falls golf course.
In the case of a successful recruitment, a letter of mutual agreement is to be signed with the physician. Should the doctor terminate practice here prior to one year’s practice, no direct monetary payment will be made.
Should the physician practice one year, but terminate the agreement prior to completion of two years, the physician won’t receive the second year incentive of $10,000.
Following two-consecutive years of practice in Fort Frances, the agreement expires.
The chosen quality of life items would be arranged in consultation with the physician and spouse following the signing of the agreement, and would terminate if the physician ends his or her practice in Fort Frances within the first two years or upon completion of two years of practice, whichever comes first.
Mayor Roy Avis and several councillors pointed out the competition among municipalities for physicians is fierce.
And while the community clinic model adopted here should make it easier to attract doctors who want to practice, but don’t want to have to buy in to the clinic itself, the town must keep on top of its incentive package as to what it is willing—and able—to offer physicians to remain competitive.
“I think that this package is a little bit light,” said Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft. “I know we’re in a financially tough situation, but doctors are graduating with debts from anywhere to $200,000-250,000 and we’re competing . . . with other municipalities offering a $100,000 signing bonus—and a house.
“We’re in the market against those guys.
“I do think we should extend this package,” he added, noting that perhaps the town could extend the “quality of life” aspect of the package for up to five years, not just two.
“It doesn‘t necessarily cost us up front, but if we can get the doctor here, and he’s willing stay that third, fourth, fifth year, I think it’s worth the investment to entice him to stay those extra years.”
Coun. Tibbs noted the Administration and Finance executive committee only had limited time and authority to come up with the package prior to the physician recruitment tour.
She said the committee certainly will revisit the incentive package again in the future, especially after getting feedback from the physician recruitment committee which goes on the tour next month.
Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig noted the local physician recruitment team includes partners from the Fort Frances Community Clinic, Riverside Health Care Facilities, Inc., AbitibiBowater, and the Rainy River District School Board, and that the town can work with them to provide even more to prospective physicians.
McCaig also clarified this incentive package is specific to what the town is offering, adding other partners also contribute to the physician recruitment effort.
The town also pays an equal share of the costs for recruitment (job fairs, travel, etc.) with the other partners, provided an annual budget estimating the costs for recruitment is provided prior to the forthcoming municipal budget for that year.
(Fort Frances Times)