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Ontario’s Practice Ready (PRO) program could bring up to three new doctors to Muskoka as soon as this fall.
The program was established in June 2023 in partnership with provincial officials, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and the Touchstone Institute. The not-for-profit company, based in Toronto, Ontario, helps recruit internationally trained doctors to Ontario and supports them once they arrive.
Initially, provincial officials said 50 new doctors would be brought to Ontario by 2024.
Dr. Keith Cross, speaking on behalf of Ontario’s Muskoka Regional Health Team, explained that the program is new to Ontario but not to Canada, noting that Manitoba is one of the provinces offering similar initiatives one of the provinces. It provides support for medical professionals who are not licensed in Ontario but have moved to the area from elsewhere. Cross said this involves multiple interviews, a trip to Muskoka and a three-month workplace-based clinical assessment, and if successful, candidates will be required to practice locally for at least three years.
Huntsville recently approved a physician incentive program that provides $60,000 signing bonuses to up to four new physicians.
Dr. Melanie Mar of Algonquin Family Health Team (AFHT) in Huntsville said incentives and PROs are “the norm” in physician recruiting. “In order to remain competitive among other communities in our surrounding areas, such as southern Ontario or northern Ontario, this is definitely an asset,” she said, but added that it was not expected.
Since the program is still in its infancy, she noted there are “some issues” that need to be resolved.
Mar said the new doctors could be coming to Muskoka in the fall of 2024, but noted they haven’t had any confirmation yet.
In Huntsville, town officials say more than 3,000 people don’t have a primary care provider, while Cross believes there are thousands more people in South Muskoka who don’t have a family doctor.
“This puts additional pressure on remaining resources,” Cross said.
He added that of those who applied through the PRO program, four were invited to visit Muskoka and three received proposals.
Cross and Marr agree that Muskoka’s doctors are very “collegial.”
“If you’re really looking for a community to live in, you really want to know that not only do you have a medical community, but you have a community that’s willing to support you, wants you to succeed and wants you to stay,” Marr said.
Mar has been operating the Huntsville Healthcare Clinic at 1 Minerva St. E. through AFHT since February 2023. “It works well, but it’s certainly not the same as having a stable doctor or nurse practitioner.”
While this is a temporary solution, Mar expects it to continue running for “at least” a few more years while they hope to fill a void in the community.
Mar hopes PRO and other new recruiting programs will help provide a steady influx of doctors to support those already here and the many residents who don’t have a family doctor. However, she knows that the ranks of doctors are “scarce.”
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