Department of Health, Health P.E.I. taking over doctor recruiting program

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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The Medical Society of P.E.I. is stepping away from recruiting physicians after managing a program generally known as physicians recruiting physicians for 3 years.

In November 2020, the society was contracted by the Division of Well being and Wellness to handle this system. Three years later, the MSPEI, which represents 400 physicians within the province, credit this program with serving to to recruit 81 physicians to the province. As a part of this system, the medical society employed Dr. Megan Miller as its chief doctor recruiter to assist information new docs via the province’s recruitment course of.

Whereas a lot of the main focus in recent times has been on P.E.I.’s scarcity of physicians, the MSPEI program has demonstrated success. Evaluations of the physicians recruiting physicians program have proven that new docs had been glad with this system.

Nonetheless, in an Oct. 31 e mail to members, MSPEI president Krista Cassell mentioned in this system’s three-year tenure, it didn’t reach “creating extra cohesion between the doctor hiring and onboarding course of” and in lowering recruitment limitations.

“Earlier this spring, MSPEI met with the Division and Well being P.E.I. to debate the way forward for our contract,” Cassell mentioned within the Oct. 31 e mail. “Whereas all events noticed worth within the shared recruitment mannequin, Well being P.E.I.’s management workforce cited that lack of autonomy and accountability in proudly owning the recruitment course of was a big barrier.”

Cassell mentioned the MSPEI will likely be passing on the position of recruiting docs to the province.

In a press release to SaltWire, the Division of Well being confirmed Miller will likely be persevering with the work of recruiting physicians however will likely be working beneath the Division of Well being, together with different employees of the province’s recruitment and retention workplace.

“My feeling was MSPEI determined to provide some area to Well being P.E.I. to tackle extra of that position. And, on account of that, MSPEI took a step again from the recruitment area.” – Dr. Megan Miller

In an interview on Nov. 3, Miller mentioned the MSPEI’s position in recruitment in P.E.I. has been distinctive, on condition that the group features like a “union of kinds” for physicians.

Miller mentioned the change is partly on account of Well being P.E.I. searching for extra duty for recruitment.

“My feeling was MSPEI determined to provide some area to Well being P.E.I. to tackle extra of that position. And, on account of that, MSPEI took a step again from the recruitment area,” Miller mentioned.

Miller mentioned newly recruited physicians will nonetheless be members of MSPEI.

“On a day-to-day foundation my job hasn’t modified, actually, in any respect, besides I am working in a unique group,” Miller mentioned.

Larger position in hiring

Whereas P.E.I. has persistently recruited extra physicians than have left in recent times, the province is dealing with a scarcity of household physicians. Greater than 34,000 Island residents – or 22 per cent of the inhabitants – shouldn’t have a household physician or main caregiver.

Well being P.E.I. CEO Dr. Michael Gardam has mentioned publicly that the method of health-care hiring within the province is inefficient and overly sophisticated. The province’s recruitment and retention employees at the moment work inside the Division of Well being and Wellness, which is distinct from Well being P.E.I.

In a press release, Well being P.E.I. mentioned the elimination of the MSPEI in doctor recruitment means it is going to be doing extra of the each day work of recruiting, hiring and onboarding physicians via outreach and on-line recruitment advertising and marketing.

“Till now, Well being P.E.I. has performed a really restricted position in recruitment but would maintain all of the accountability for the shortage of physicians within the system,” Well being P.E.I. mentioned within the assertion.

“The realignment appropriately locations duty for doctor recruitment with Well being P.E.I. and the Division of Well being and Wellness. It additionally ensures Well being P.E.I.’s perspective on who we have to entice and easy methods to entice them can inform recruitment, whereas counting on the data and views of the physicians working instantly within the system.”

Up till now, Miller mentioned Well being P.E.I. has performed a “enormous position” within the recruitment course of.

She mentioned Well being P.E.I. has decided what vacancies there are, what postings seem like and when they’re posted.

“I feel it has been a little bit of a false impression that Well being P.E.I. would not have any stake within the recruitment sport. That is simply not the case. They actually drive the recruitment course of,” Miller mentioned.

Miller mentioned her position with the Division of Well being and Wellness will proceed to assist Well being P.E.I. via advertising and marketing, connecting with leads and constructing relationships with medical residents elsewhere in Canada.

Stu Neatby is a political reporter with SaltWire in Prince Edward Island. He will be reached by e mail at [email protected] and adopted on X @stu_neatby.