A report to Owen Sound’s Corporate Services Committee estimates the number of patients living in Owen Sound who do not have a doctor locally could be as high as 6,000.
The committee will hear an update on physician recruitment from staff at their meeting on Thursday, April 13. The report also estimates that 15,000 people are without a primary care practitioner in the broader area served by the 21 physicians of the Owen Sound Family Health Team.
The report predicts the city will require 12 new doctors to relocate or start their careers in Owen Sound over the next three years. That takes into account population growth, current orphan patient numbers, estimates for unregistered orphan patients, and the patients of physicians who plan to retire soon.
The report pointed out that access to local family physicians and healthcare professionals impacts a community’s overall health and well-being. Those who don’t have a local doctor may have to travel long distances to see a family physician, while others have to rely on local clinics or the emergency room for health care.
A number of initiatives are underway to help attract doctors. That includes the Owen Sound Primary Care Recruitment and Retention Taskforce. It began in the early 2000’s when local community leaders organized efforts to recruit new physicians and support the Owen Sound Family Health Clinic launch in 2011.
Other programs include the McMaster Rural Family Practice Residency Program, the Grey Bruce Regional Health Human Resource Task Force, and the Rural Resident Retreat Event in Kincardine.
Owen Sound’s Physician Recruitment Reserve currently has a balance of $15,975.
The group’s goals include increasing opportunities for residents training in family practice rotations, and creating an inventory of recruitment incentive programs. The Owen Sound Community Primary Care Recruitment Task Force submitted a grant application for the Government of Canada Community Service Recovery Fund. The funding could significantly address the greater regional need for family physicians within the Owen Sound Family Health Team.
The team will continue to explore partnerships within the community and with neighbouring municipalities for long-term strategies to address the physician shortage.
