By Julian Orlando Chaves | Huntsville Forester
At the last Huntsville council meeting, Monday, March 25, Councillors Bob Stone and Scott Morrison shared their plans to attract physicians to the area.
According to Stone, a company with a “big bag of money” has already expressed support for the plan.
Here is what you need to know:
• Stone and Morrison told council they have been investigating an “incentive program” to help the town attract more physicians.
• “What the district’s Physician Recruitment Taskforce is doing is important, but we need to concentrate more on Huntsville. We need to embrace any potential physicians and make them love Huntsville. There are 3,200 patients that are unattached from physician or primary care right now in Huntsville, and three physicians are due to retire in the next six months, adding another 3,400 patients for a total of 6,600 unattached patients in Huntsville.“ — Stone
• “We need to ensure we have stuff like gym memberships, golf memberships, ski passes, and things like that to ensure they (new physicians) are immersed in the community … we could bring a substantial plan to impact our community for the next 50 to 60 years. If we increase our incentive options, we expect commitment back, whether that be the number of new attached patients or how long they will stay in our community. We’re looking into models from all across the province in the country as to what would be best suited.“ — Morrison.
• Although the plan is at an early stage and has few details, it will include financial grants and voucher packages that should attract health-care workers to town, according to Morrison and Stone.
• Stone said he continues investigating where to get funds to support the plan, including a portion of the Municipal Accommodations Tax. Although he didn’t specify the name, a company with a “big bag of money” contacted him to support the town’s efforts.
• Coun. Helena Renwick recommended investigating strategies to improve housing access for health personnel, as this is a significant barrier to attracting staff.
• Council directed Stone and Morrison to work with staff and physicians to establish the incentive plan and present progress to council at future meetings.
