ATHABASCA – Things are looking up for the recruitment of doctors and other medical professionals in the Athabasca region, and in 14 other communities across the province, after the provincial government introduced its RESIDE program last week.
Athabasca was one of 15 communities selected to take part in the Rural Education Supplement and Integrated Doctor Experience (RESIDE) program, which will provide $2 million to 20 new family physicians in each of the next three years.
RESIDE is designed to address challenges in physician distribution and patient access to health services in rural and remote areas of the province by supporting new-in-practice family physicians to explore living and working in rural Alberta, said Alberta Health Minister Jason Copping in a press conference Jan. 31.
It’s a great relief for Athabasca mayor Rob Balay who noted in an interview Feb. 6 that there are two local doctors that could retire at any time, while the potential movement of other doctors away from the community is difficult to predict.
The RESIDE incentives will help the community bring doctors to Athabasca, but it will be up to the communities to welcome them and help them and their families integrate, said Balay.
“If we can convince a young doctor to come and join our community, they're eligible. And that’s part of what our committee that we formed does … The committee can then work on how we get these young doctors to want to become a part of our community and make their career here,” he said, noting he is quite confident the program will help attract at least one.
The Regional Health Care Recruitment and Retention Committee is a relatively new creation that includes elected representatives and administration officials from the Town of Athabasca, Athabasca County and Village of Boyle, along with members of the local medical community and from the Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) with the mandate of doing exactly what the name suggests.
While it may still be finding its legs, Balay said, one doctor that visited the community recently has agreed to practice in Athabasca, starting in June, while he is hopeful another young doctor they are currently in the process of introducing to the community will consider settling down here as well.
“It's quite exciting,” said Balay. “Our community has a lot to offer. I think it's pretty easy to show off. For a small community, we have our recreational facilities that are as good as anywhere and probably better than most small towns. We have a very welcoming community and that bodes well when you're showing off your community ... Hopefully, this is going to help us get some doctors here for the long term.”
More from the announcement can be found here.
