Partners for Better Health Meeting Minutes

KEY DECISIONS FROM THE MEETING OF JUNE 27, 2024

(No decisions recorded)

KEY ACTION ITEMS ARISING FROM THE MEETING OF JUNE 27, 2024

ATTENDEES

P = Present | R = Regrets/Absent | V = Virtual | T = Interim

---

MINUTES

1. Welcome

Dr. Robin Saunders, Co-Chair, opened the meeting at 1738hrs and provided a territorial acknowledgement.

The purpose of the meeting is to facilitate best practices for the recruitment and retention of Family Physicians to the South Island, address challenges faced, and encourage collaboration between municipalities and Divisions of Family Practice in order to move forward.

Roundtable introductions followed by dinner and open discussion amongst attendees.

2. Comox Valley Division and Municipal Partnership for Recruitment and Retention

Guests: Dr. Jonathan Kerr and Catherine Browne

Dr. Jonathan Kerr and Catherine Browne from the Comox Valley Division presented a slideshow highlighting their recruitment and retention task force, challenges, successes, and goals.

The recruitment and retention of Family Physicians has been designated a significant priority for Divisions and the community. Dr. Kerr and Catherine emphasized the importance of collaboration between Divisions with a noncompetitive and positive premise. The taskforce of community partners meets quarterly and is aimed to address issues, increase awareness, and work together to bring more Family Physicians to Vancouver Island. The personal and community health benefits as well as the economic benefits of this are extensive. They also addressed the anxiety amongst patients who are unattached. Currently, the Comox Valley has a very low attachment gap with approximately 2,000 unattached patients as they have recruited 44 FPs since April 2023.

Word of mouth, foundational support through R&R coordinators, and momentum are key to resolve the gap and attract FPs. Other strategies include:

• The “Red-Carpet” Welcome (welcome gifts, discounts for newly arrived FPs, etc.).
• Social media campaigns to connect with FPs (videos, marketing, media platforms).
• Address concerns including childcare, jobs for spouses, and housing for families of FPs (R&R Coordinator to step in to assist with these factors).

3. Municipal Playbook for Recruitment

Dave Saunders and Valerie Nicol from the Saunders Family Foundation presented the draft Community Healthcare System Support Playbook (Playbook | Healthy West Shore), which is a roadmap for local communities and municipalities to support healthcare and emergency workers, a project that has been adopted provincially (waiting on final approval from MoH for the toolkit). This work has been done mostly on a voluntary basis to develop the policy and will be finalized by November 2024.

Dave explained that it is the responsibility of municipalities to take care of its citizens, which means that healthcare is the business of the local government (not only provincial or federal responsibility). He also highlighted the importance of emergency planning so healthcare can still effectively take place in these situations. He emphasized that it is not just about the short-term attracting of FPs, but rather the goal to create a situation where people want to remain in healthcare on the island through supporting and delivering solutions. Colwood had no FPs, but now is starting to recruit (9 FPs) through playbook strategies. He suggested creating a group to spearhead this work in the South Island, e.g., this could be well supported if each municipality establishes a health committee.

4. South Island Division of Family Practice (SIDFP) Recruitment & Retention

Original Item 4 (Westshore Primary Care Society Partnership with Municipalities) tabled due to the absence of Alyssa Andres.

Niki Bouchard, Recruitment & Retention Program Lead at SIDFP, provided an overview of her work in the South Island. She highlighted that recruitment efforts are working, FPs are coming, and the Practice Ready Assessment-BC (PRA-BC) program is tripling the number of FPs. She said that spouses and children are a significant factor for FPs relocating (families losing their own FPs by moving here, spouses requiring jobs, children requiring care, etc.) and she provides support for the whole family of the FP candidates. The LFP payment model is also a big attraction for FPs. “Take care of the people who take care of us”, was Niki’s request to the group to create a point person for each municipality so she can link the municipality with new physicians and their families.

5. Open Discussion with Municipalities, MLA, and Guests/Members

Original Item 5 (Municipal Parameters for Physician Recruitment & Retention) tabled in substitution with an open discussion.

Sooke:

BC Builds has been partnered with to develop raw land (infrastructure needed, zoning completed) for a healthcare clinic. More information will be known in August. Childcare and housing are being looked at in tandem. The goal is to bring new people and FPs and grow its own community.

Langford:

Brought forward the question of whether healthcare is the responsibility of federal, provincial, or municipal governments. Discussion regarding municipalities attempting to take on this work with already overburdened staff, without a playbook or insight into healthcare that is needed to properly address this topic. Langford does not currently have a health care committee (Colwood and Sooke do). Desire expressed to build rather than draw FPs from other neighbouring communities.

View Royal:

Belief expressed that a big problem is that municipalities have been taken out of healthcare, as well as a disconnect between levels of government. Discussion regarding struggle to meet the needs of a growing population.

Highlands:

A big issue is that the healthcare model has changed: it used to be that everyone in BC seemed to have a Family Physician, the gap seems much larger now.

Langford/Juan de Fuca MLA:

Suggestion to utilize the MLAs in the community (there are 87) and write to them. A big attraction for families relocating here is the education system. Comment that on average, there are approximately 10k people moving to BC every 37 days. Follow up with the federal government is desired.

Co-Chairs:

The healthcare system cannot keep up with the population increase, and there are not enough clinics to support more FPs to come practice here. Infrastructure is needed to support the growth of the field. More FPs need to be trained and encouraged to enter healthcare in Canada (FPs are being recruited from other countries to help match the demand). The Emergency Departments are overfull (many unattached patients but some attached and unaware of “right care right place”); emphasis placed on elderly patients “aging in place.”

6. South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP) – Community Roundtable for Physician Recruitment & Retention

Dallas Gislason from SIPP presented a slideshow highlighting SIPP’s work with FP recruitment and retention and initiative Victoria Rising. He discussed their alliance model for economic development and the diversity and regional strength of Victoria with its many municipalities/communities. He explained that SIPP’s strategy focuses on the subregions of Victoria and involving all levels and groups to attract FPs. SIPP is currently working on a social media campaign including community profiles and videos of physicians to help the recruitment effort. They are also using networks to help spouses of FPs find jobs. SIPP is launching a partners program and making strides in establishing a media presence. A community roundtable (CRD-wide) regarding family physician recruitment and retention has met once and municipalities are encouraged to join these discussions. Planning is underway for the next meeting that is anticipated at the end of October 2024.

7. Next Steps

Hope expressed to have an “all for one, one for all” approach and join the SIPP community roundtable to join the community effort of Family Physician recruitment and retention. Suggestion to create a link between municipalities, their respective healthcare committees, and the SIPP roundtable, while maintaining ownership of community oversight. Since this is a pilot project, there is the ability to create a center recruitment and retention excellence for family physicians and their families to South Island.

There is a strong commitment from FPs and others at the table to provide comprehensive, quality healthcare and work to resolve issues. There is a need to come together to keep the momentum going. Invitation for all to reach out to the South Island Division or SIPP. Invitation from the mayors to reach out to meet with them one-on-one and share information and ideas. November was indicated a good time to meet again.

8. Wrap Up

The meeting closed at 2022hrs.