severe physician shortage, which they say has led to a crisis in rural medicine. This issue is particularly acute in small and rural communities, where emergency departments frequently face closures due to the lack of doctors. The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) hosted an online discussion with its president, Dr. Dominik Nowak, and two northern physicians, Dr. Sarah Giles and [...]
The job of recruiting family doctors starts by understanding where the gaps in primary care services are. To identify the areas where the people do not have access to a family doctor or other primary care provider, the OPRA team requests data from the Ministry of Health, which is compared to the 2023 census data. With this information, it [...]
The Ontario Physician Recruitment Alliance (OPRA) is at the forefront of addressing the physician recruitment crisis in Ontario. With a significant percentage of the population not enrolled with a primary care physician (Ministry of Health PEM data, Oct 2024) and 2.52 million “uncertainly attached” to a primary care provider (INSPIRE ), the gap between the care needed and the [...]
Niagara is currently facing a shortage of 106 family doctors. Local mayors and administrative officers are working together to address this issue. Jill Croteau, a physician recruitment specialist, has been actively recruiting doctors from Ireland, the UK, and other regions. Niagara municipalities are offering financial incentives to attract doctors. In 2024, a record-setting 28 new doctors started practices in [...]
The article from the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) discusses the challenges and strategies related to supporting rural physicians in Canada. It highlights the unpredictability of the rural physician workforce and emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive recruitment process that ensures physicians feel welcome and connected to their communities. The article also addresses the need for policy changes and [...]
The closure of the only walk-in clinic in St. Thomas has left approximately 10,000 residents without a primary care provider, forcing many to seek care at the emergency room, which has led to long wait times and high patient volumes. The remaining clinic that accepts non-registered patients has very limited hours, making it difficult for many to access care. [...]
Thorold City Council is addressing the city’s doctor shortage. Councillor Carmen DeRose emphasized the need for a concerted effort to bring more physicians to Thorold. Discussions included potential incentive programs to attract doctors, similar to those used in other cities. Concerns were raised about the effectiveness and sustainability of such incentive programs. The council plans to bring the issue [...]
The South Grenville councils are considering supporting the local family health team. This initiative aims to enhance healthcare services in the region by addressing the shortage of medical professionals. The councils are discussing various strategies and funding options to support the recruitment and retention of healthcare providers. This support is seen as essential for improving access to medical care [...]
Haliburton County’s physician recruitment efforts have shown promising results recently. The county has been actively working with the Eastern Ontario Physician Recruiter Alliance to attract doctors to the region. Wendy Welch, the county’s physician recruitment coordinator, reported that two potential doctors have expressed interest in relocating to Haliburton County and establishing full-time practices. READ FULL ARTICLE [...]
The City of Brantford Council reviewed the Community Physician Recruitment Program 2024 and 2025 Action Plan during its Committee of the Whole meeting. The plan outlines strategies to attract and retain physicians in the community, addressing the ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals. Key components of the plan include offering competitive incentives, improving working conditions, and enhancing support for new [...]
