The Mayor’s Task Force on Doctor Recruitment and Retention gave its report at the Council Meeting on April 21.
Councillor Abe Hiebert, Chair of the Task Force, spoke regarding the research activities and findings of the Task Force.
“We had a wonderful committee that worked very well together and gathered substantial information regarding our mandate,” said Chair and City Councillor Abe Hiebert. “We interviewed various people that had been or are presently involved with the health care system and this information resulted in the Task Force Report.”
“An integral part of a community of excellence is high quality healthcare service,” said Mayor Goertzen. “The Task Force has done some good work and made some key recommendations. I look forward to the discussions with City Council as we all want to see more doctors providing services in our city.”
While highlighting factors affecting doctor recruitment, outside of direct regional, facility and community control, the report also stated “the City of Steinbach should play an integral role in realizing a Primary Health Care model”. The report went on to explain that this could be accomplished by ensuring that the community is involved and invested in putting health care as a priority.
The Task Force recommended that City Council appoint a City and District Health Board which could include doctors, members of the Chamber of Commerce, Bethesda Foundation, Haven Group, Steinbach Housing Inc., City councillor, representation from RHA, Steinbach citizens, and members from neighbouring municipalities as well.
It was explained that the City and District Health Board could further explore bringing together various local interest groups to explore facilities/building infrastructure that could accommodate a vision of Primary Care. The board would look at developing a marketing plan to promote Steinbach’s selling points, such as school systems, housing, and employment opportunities. A Welcome Committee would also be established to participate in recruitment by introducing potential candidates to the community and in retention by ensuring new families are integrated into the community.
In their research, the Task Force looked at other communities, including Winkler and Niverville, and what they were doing to improve doctor recruitment and retention.
Mayor Goertzen noted that council would take the upcoming study session to discuss the report further.
Members of the Mayor’s Task Force are Abe Hiebert (Chair), Dr. Mark Duerksen, Dr. John Schellenberg, Barry Dyck, Marg Rempel, and Denise Pattyn (RHA Rep).
The Task Force was put together in 2008 with a mandate to explore the status of Steinbach’s current health-care services; what other municipalities have done regarding doctor recruitment and retention; the measures currently undertaken in Steinbach and surrounding area to address this issue; and what other measures the City of Steinbach and citizens of Steinbach could undertake to improve doctor recruitment and retention.
