Regional physician recruitment committee gains stronger support

Richard Froese
Smoky River Express

Physician recruitment and retention for the Smoky River region’s committee has been revived with new life, focus, and stronger support from throughout the region. “We are moving ahead once again with a more positive profile and more support from municipalities,” says Barbara Gardecki, who chaired the meeting May 2. Currently, with two full-time physicians based in McLennan and no full-time physicians at Falher Medical Clinic, the recruitment and retention team plans to focus immediately on a strategic plan and a top prospect who returns this summer and update. Dr. Jeff Ponke returns to practice at Falher Medical Clinic from June 24 to Aug. 17 before Dr. John Loge is scheduled to return in September. “Most immediate is our need to ensure the region gives Dr. Ponke and his wife, Amy, and two young daughters a warm welcome when they return,” says Gardecki, who also chairs Falher and Area Community Association for Professional Services (CAPS) which owns and operates Falher Medical Clinic. “We want to have two physicians in the Falher clinic so we don’t have to close it at any time.” Dione Guerette has volunteered to coordinate a welcome reception and package planned for June 28 when the Ponke family arrives. Municipal and Smoky River Regional Economic Development representatives at the meeting expressed their commitment to help fund initiatives to recruit physicians. “If we could get funding from municipalities, that would be helpful,” says Gardecki. Municipalities and chambers of commerce invited to join and support partnership Municipalities will be asked for funding for recruiting and retaining physicians, while the committee will send letters to chambers of commerce in McLennan, Falher, and Girouxville requesting representatives on the committee. Chambers and businesses are vital, the members of the committee agreed, since medical services are foundational to sustain a community and businesses. “Economic development is strongly behind physician recruitment and retention,” says Carmen Ewing, a member the economic board and mayor of the Village of Girouxville. “We feel it has a big impact on our economy, so maybe the recruitment committee may want to consider requesting funds from economic development.” Municipal official officials suggest that special funding for rural development could be allocated for local physician recruitment initiatives, with local municipalities working together. “It has to be a joint municipal project,” says Ewing. Moving ahead, the committee plans to set up a website for prospective candidates, and to finalize an application for a funding grant of $5,000 from Alberta Rural Physician Action Plan to develop a website and for a coordinator. Other strategies in other Alberta communities will also be researched by the committee to help define the best methods and approaches for recruiting. Flow charts for processing applications and promoting the region will also be updated by the committee in the coming months. Applications are processed through Peace Country Health which approves a physician for hospital privileges even though letters are sent directly to the hospital in McLennan, says Barbara Mader, director of health services for Sacred Heart Community Health Centre in McLennan. Smoky River Community Health Council is also a committed partner on the physician recruitment and retention team. The next meeting is scheduled for June 12 at 7 p.m. in the Municipal District of Smoky River council chambers.