On Saturday June 22nd, a Healthcare Summit was held in Port Alberni to address Recruitment and Retention of Healthcare Professionals in the Alberni Valley. This event was led by the local Medical Staff Association and facilitated by Doctors of BC through the Facility Engagement Initiative. The primary goal was to collaborate with local partners in the recruitment and retention of all healthcare personnel in the Alberni Valley.
Representatives from the Central Island Division of Family Practice, the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, Tseshaht First Nation, Island Health, the City of Port Alberni, the Alberni Clayoquot Regional District, the Nanaimo Medical Staff Engagement Society and Community Futures attended. Unfortunately, Hupacasath First Nation was unable to attend but will be briefed on proceedings. Gord Johns, MP and Josie Osborne, MLA were also in attendance.
The morning session reviewed the serious need for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals and lab staff at both the hospital and community levels. A vision was shared to attract healthcare staff to the Valley by making our hospital a ‘magnet hospital’ inside a blue zone community, focusing on health and wellness with a particular emphasis on mountain biking and hiking. Harnessing our natural resources will increase economic development, improve tax revenue and allow other important projects in our community to be funded. A myriad of facility/hospital incentives already in place were discussed with others agreed upon. The afternoon session focused on the identification of factors which would have an immediate impact on recruitment and retention. The three main action items identified were childcare services, short and long-term housing solutions and facility and community onboarding. Work in these areas will be carried forward by a task force made up of all partners to ensure that action is taken on these multi-sectoral issues.