Toolkit designed to help rural communities recruit doctors

The launch of a new toolkit, designed to help rural and remote communities improve and promote their local services and amenities, will support municipalities struggling to recruit and retain health-care professionals, a municipal leader says.

Attracting family physicians is a “huge issue” for many towns, including Russell, which recently went down to having only two full-time doctors, said Adrienne Falloon, chief administrative officer for the Municipality of Russell-Binscarth.

“We’re obviously looking for a more long-term solution to the problem and hopefully be able to recruit some physicians that’ll stay with us for longer period of time,” she said.

Falloon touted the Manitoba government and the Association of Manitoba Municipalities’ release of a 20-page guide, outlining strategies municipal and community leaders can use to draw in health-care providers and encourage them to build long-term careers in their communities.

The guide, which was launched Thursday, includes checklists, templates, anecdotes from communities already putting in the work to attract health-care staff, and a collection of photos showcasing lakes, landmarks and other attractions in Manitoba.

Falloon said the Russell Health Centre needs about five more doctors to operate on a functional level.

“Our ER is open, but it’s being staffed by locums coming in and keeping it open for us,” she said.

Over the Easter weekend, the hospital’s 24-7 emergency department was at risk of temporarily closing until physician coverage was found at the last minute.

“There has been some times — and I’m sure there will be in the future — of when our ER is at risk of closures when we’re not able to get those locums in to cover,” Falloon said.

Retaining doctors comes down to recruiting the “right person” who sees the value in building a life in the community, she said.

“It’s hard to find those people who want to settle in rural Manitoba, even though we think it’s a pretty great place to be,” Falloon added.

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said the toolkit is about giving municipalities “the latest and greatest tools so that they can be successful.”

“We know the best people to champion rural communities are the community members themselves.”

Municipalities can identify any gaps they have in local resources and then look to the government for additional support, Asagwara said.

The toolkit provides details on what needs health-care workers want fulfilled before they decide to settle down in a community. The kit suggests municipalities help to secure housing, child care and school placements along with introductions to recreational activities or cultural groups to foster a deeper sense of belonging.

The toolkit boosts Manitoba as a province full of opportunity “with warm welcomes, natural beauty and diverse communities.”

Kathy Valentino, president of the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, said she hears from municipal leaders often about how they want to showcase what their communities have to offer.

She told the Sun on Friday it’s a joint effort between mayors, reeves, council and community volunteers.

“Everybody can learn from each other on different ideas that are worth sharing,” Valentino said.

She mentioned Swan River as an example of a community that has an “intense” doctor recruitment program geared at adding more family physicians to their roster.

The toolkit said recruitment is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

“A family physician arriving from Nigeria will have very different immediate needs than a nurse practitioner relocating from Toronto, or a student completing a residency in Dauphin,” the toolkit states.

“Knowing who is coming allows you to tailor your community welcome to address their specific questions and concerns.”

The toolkit provides examples of how to assist health-care workers who may be experiencing a Manitoba winter for the first time or are transitioning from a bustling urban centre to a quieter rural community, or finding employment opportunities for a spouse.

The toolkit highlights a few strategies communities are using to draw health-care providers in.

Minnedosa prioritizes connection with on-site tours at hospitals and meet-and-greets with staff at organizations or businesses so doctors, nurses and graduates can envision a life beyond the workplace, the toolkit said.

Staff at the Minnedosa Health Centre recently gave two internationally trained doctors, who are completing a medical licensure program at the University of Manitoba, a tour of the facility to get them acquainted before they begin working there in fall.

Morden offers airport pickups, guided tours and short-term housing accommodations, and hosts casual dinners to make health-care providers feel welcome. Similarly, the Rural Municipality of Lac du Bonnet relies on volunteers to introduce recruits to the outdoor lifestyle and community events.

Valentino said the toolkit provides municipalities struggling to recruit health-care workers with an idea of where to start and contacts they can reach out to for inspiration.

The guide will continue to evolve as communities share their insights and lessons learned over time.

» tadamski@brandonsun.com