Fort Erie’s physician recruitment progress in ‘relatively good shape,’ says Redekop

As local governments across the region make their own attempts to recruit family physicians, Fort Erie has fared well in doing so, says Mayor Wayne Redekop.

The town started its program to attract doctors about 20 years ago.

Redekop estimates about a dozen have been drawn to Fort Erie during that time.

“We’ve had quite good success,” the mayor told Fort Erie Radio in an interview Thursday.

“Even though there’s a continuing need, I think we’re in relatively good shape,” he said, adding that “compared to other municipalities, we’re doing quite well.”

The Town of Fort Erie offers an incentive of $75,000 for a full-time family physician with a five-year return of service agreement.

Asked about cities like Welland offering a $100,000 incentive and how this impacts Fort Erie’s efforts, Redekop said towns and cities competing with one another is a provincewide issue, not something exclusive to Niagara.

“There’s a lot of opportunities for them wherever they want to go,” said Redekop, who also said there is more than just money dangled in front of potential doctors.

Fort Erie’s geographic location, its recreational amenities, and the ability for them to be part of group practices are points used to attract new doctors, the mayor told Fort Erie Radio.

Alice Preston, the town’s community healthcare co-ordinator, said statistics calculated by the provincial government indicate that Fort Erie is short by five or six family doctors. She also said five have been recruited in the last five years.

Redekop also said an emphasis has been put on trying to draw younger doctors, which plays a role in the town’s long-term vision for healthcare.

Earlier this year, Jill Croteau, Niagara Region Public Health’s physician recruitment and retention specialist, visited local councils to discuss physician recruitment efforts.

In her presentation, she said there are 274 physicians in Niagara, which is 106 short of the 380 there should be.

Redekop said the town estimates there are about 7,000 Fort Erie residents who are “unattached” to a family doctor, but that number could be less.

“We don’t know how many of them have doctors in another community,” he said.

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