The Town of Huntsville is developing a physician incentive program, starting with a financial signing incentive.
At today’s special council meeting, Huntsville Council unanimously approved a signing bonus of $60,000 to help attract much-needed primary healthcare providers (family doctors) to serve the Town’s growing number of unattached patients. The signing bonus was approved for up to four new physicians that the Algonquin Family Health Team has indicated are currently considering locating to Huntsville.
As directed by Council, staff will continue to work on an incentive program with councillors, physicians as well as the business community and others, and report back to council on potential incentive packages moving forward.
“Huntsville has a lot to offer prospective new family doctors with the beautiful natural environment and local amenities; however, this incentive was created in order to be competitive within the Ontario healthcare landscape,” said Councillor Bob Stone in a release issued by the municipality. “Many communities are trying to recruit doctors currently, and we want to ensure Huntsville is one of the destinations of choice within Muskoka and area for prospective doctors.”
Doctor recruitment is a major priority for Huntsville residents, particularly as noted during consultation in the Town’s recently adopted Strategic Plan.
“Huntsville Council and Economic Development staff have recognized this priority and have been actively involved in physician recruitment for over two years, working together with the regional Muskoka Area Ontario Health Team (MAOHT) and the local Algonquin Family Health Team (AFHT). There are currently over 3,000 people without a primary care provider in Huntsville; this number is expected to increase significantly as local physicians retire,” according to the release.
Funding for the new physician signing bonuses will come from the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) reserve, not from the tax base.
“We know through public consultation that doctor recruitment is extremely important to Huntsville residents. So many residents are without a family doctor and this number will only continue to increase as doctors retire. This financial incentive is just the first piece in building an attractive physician incentive program,” added Huntsville Economic Development Officer, Lauren MacDermid, in the release. “I also want to acknowledge and thank our local businesses and community partners for supporting our current and past physician recruitment efforts. We look forward to continuing to work together as the new program is developed.”
The physician incentive program will be open to all qualifying primary care physicians who relocate to Huntsville – if you’re interested in learning more, would like a tour of Huntsville, and/or want to meet the family healthcare team, visit Huntsville.ca/DoctorsWanted or contact the Town’s Economic Development Officer at: [email protected].
If you are a resident or business who would like to participate in enhancing the physician incentives, please submit your information to Huntsville.ca/DoctorsWanted or reach out to the Town’s Economic Development Officer at: [email protected] to discuss.
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Huntsville Councillors to vote on whether to implement a $60,000 signing bonus to attract doctors
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