Cape Breton group thinks outside the box to recruit and retain doctors
A community group in Glace Bay, N.S., has taken it upon themselves to try and recruit physicians -- and so far it's been a success.
Bay It Forward’s efforts are paying off at a time when the number of people without a family doctor continues to grow in the province.
“We're very proud over the last three to four years and even through COVID we've been able to recruit three new doctors for Glace Bay,” says member David MacKeigan.
Currently, there are more than 100,000 people without a family physician in Nova Scotia. While government recruitment and retention efforts continue, communities are becoming more involved.
In Glace Bay, potential doctors are taken on a tour of the Miners Museum, a boat ride along the shoreline and jigging for mackerel.
“It's very important, because most of the doctors have families and they want to know that these communities are a great place to raise their children and spend the rest of their lives and make it their forever home,” says MacKeigan.
A similar effort is underway in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador. The community is working with the local Muslim community to establish the town's first mosque and to retain Muslim doctors.
“Governments and health authorities are doing their thing trying to find people and get them here,” says Mayor Percy Farwell. “I think a big part of our job is to make sure when they get here they have a lifestyle and experience that will make them want to stay. We can't be in a constant cycle of crisis management.”
In a province with more than half a million people, nearly a quarter are without a family doctor.
Farwell says it's important to think outside the box and in his community it's all about inclusion.
“We try to create awareness in the community that we have fellow citizens here who are celebrating something different than we're use to celebrating,” he says. “It might not be Christmas or Easter, and it might not be something that we fully understand, but we could learn a lot from and we could support them and celebrate with them.”
“I think that anything you can do that makes physicians more comfortable in their community, makes them feel more welcome, makes them feel more at home is going to pay off in results” says Cape Breton physician Margaret Fraser.
Fraser applauds Gander's efforts and says Cape Breton has lost doctors in the past because some resources were not available to them.
“We need to think so far outside of the box that there's no box, because what we've been doing for years isn't working and we have a real problem.”
Bay It Forward says the first step is getting a doctor to commit to coming to the community. The second step is making them feel comfortable and getting them to stay.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Iran fires air defence batteries in provinces as explosions heard near Isfahan
Iran fired air defence batteries early Friday morning as explosions could be heard near a major air base near Isfahan, raising fears of a possible Israeli strike following Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.