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Westlock-area municipalities look to recognize healthcare workers

Town, county and village pool $10,500 to host appreciation events and initiatives
WES - hospital 2021 Dec
The Town of Westlock, Westlock County and Village of Clyde are planning to honour healthcare workers in 2022 as part of a newly-signed, tri-municipal healthcare recognition agreement.

WESTLOCK – Two out of three Westlock-area municipalities have agreed to pool a little over $10,000 to laud healthcare workers in 2022 as part of a newly-signed, tri-municipal healthcare recognition agreement.

Westlock County councillors unanimously signed off on the four-page agreement at their March 22 meeting and were followed by Town of Westlock councillors at their March 28 meeting — Village of Clyde councillors are expected to pass the document at their April 11 meeting.

The initiative, which sees the town and county ante up $5,000 each while the village kicks in $500, replaces a 2016 physician recruitment agreement between the three and is aimed at appreciating “the contributions that healthcare providers provide to the Westlock region.”

Town CAO Simone Wiley said Westlock-area municipalities have done “fairly well” on the doctor recruitment front, noting in the request for decision that through communications with Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) members and the local medical community, it was determined the three municipalities should now change their focus and direct those recruitment dollars at “healthcare appreciation and recognition.”

“It’s a nice simple agreement. And certainly, it’s a perfect fit with both our strategic plan and working in concert with RhPAP and their strategies. This is well planned,” said mayor Ralph Leriger at the town’s March 28 meeting. “Our medical community is a huge part of our economic engine and serves our citizens and always has. This fits well in our philosophy of positive organizational culture.”

Added Coun. Abby Keyes: “I like that it broadens the scope to all healthcare professionals. I’m excited about this.”

Possible gestures range from paying for a barbeque to honour healthcare workers, to giving them free facility passes or appreciation gift baskets. The town will be managing partner for the group and Wiley says there’s planning underway for an event in May as there’s a handful of national healthcare recognition days already on the calendar.

“In a lot of ways this is just a different approach to physician recruitment and retention,” said Coun. Jon Kramer who made the motion to sign the document. “We know all healthcare workers want to work in healthy environments where they feel appreciated. So, when I look at this, it’s just a roundabout way of trying to accomplish the same thing and a really unique way.”

“I think this is the approach to go. It gives us flexibility in how we want to show our respect to that community,” added Coun. Curtis Snell.

George Blais, TownandCountryToday.com

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