Improved Programs for Rural Physicians Recruitment & Retention

RURAL PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PROGRAM

While many rural communities all across Canada can struggle to attract doctors, the Government of Alberta has a number of rural recruitment and retention initiatives in place. These include:

• $50M annually on the Rural and Remote Northern Program (RRNP) where physicians in rural and remote communities can qualify for up to $60,000 annually as well as additional on-call compensation,
• $2M annually to ensure that communities with four or fewer physicians have access to medical coverage due to short-term absences,
• $7M annually to help committees such as the Lac Ste. Anne Committee builds strategies to attract and retain health professionals to their communities, and
• $13M annually on the Physician On-Call Program to ensure that physicians are compensated for providing patients with timely and appropriate care after hours

Continuing education is an absolute must to maintain a reliable medical system, therefore this program also enables practicing rural physicians to acquire continuing medical education. This will be achieved through an approved $3M for Rural Medical Education.

This grant funding is in place to encourage medical students to strongly consider the benefits and advantages of working in a rural community.

WE VALUE OUR RURAL DOCTORS!

We acknowledge the great work done by the Lac Ste. Anne Physician Recruitment Committee including representatives from Lac Ste. Anne County, the Town of Onoway, and the Village of Alberta Beach along with 11 Summer Villages – Birch Cove, Castle Island, Nakamun Park, Ross Haven, Silver Sands, South View, Sunrise Beach, Sunset Point, Val Quentin, West Cove and Yellowstone. An outstanding example of a community coming together to solve a challenging situation.