Table of Contents 6 2012 OVATION Awards Winning Entries

The issue:
The Ministry of Health and Long‐Term Care, HealthForce Ontario division document, “Ontario
Population Needs‐Based Physician Simulation Model” (October 2010) 1 along with local analysis indicate
that an increased patient demand, a proportionately high immigrant population, an ageing population,
physician retirement, changing physician practice patterns and a projected population growth in Halton
of 25 per cent by 2019, will mean that the need for new physicians will continue in Halton. In 2011,
Halton added a special project to its physician recruitment and retention program. Working together
with the local “Doctor’s Hockey Club”, a 52 person hockey team made up of hockey playing physicians
from across Halton and Mississauga, Halton supported the 2011 Docs on Ice charitable hockey
tournament.
Links to: Citizen’s Priorities/Halton Region's 2011‐2014 Action Plan: Attracting and Retaining Jobs ‐
Information and services to assist in establishing or expanding businesses in Halton. Protecting Public
Health ‐ Attract new physicians to establish medical practices in Halton.
Impact: The Halton Physician Recruitment program addresses current physician shortages and the needs
of the future.
Research:
Social media: More health care groups are turning to online social media tools such as Facebook and
Twitter to recruit physicians to their practice. 2
Networks are important: Recruitment of new businesses, including physicians may be facilitated
through connections and word‐of‐mouth endorsements from other professionals. 3
Work‐life balance and family friendly communities: Physicians are reducing scope of practice and
workload activity in order to decrease workload burden, improve work/life balance, pursue other
medical interests and/or in response to perceived inadequate remuneration. Spousal job opportunities
and family friendly communities are also important factors in physician career planning.
2. Intended Audience(s).
Audience/Stakeholders Rationale/Approach Key Messages
Primary
Medical residents and
medical students in
Ontario
Physicians are wired – use Web
site/social media
An event like no other in support
of the Alzheimer’s Society
Bring your A game to Oakville
Physicians already Physicians are wired – use Web An event like no other in support
1
http://sirepub.halton.ca/councildocs/pm/11/Dec%2015%202010%20Administration%20and%20Finance%20LPS0611%20%20Physi
cian%20Recruitment%20Initiative%20Update%20%20LPS0611%20Physician%20Recruitment%20Initiative%20Update%20FINALd
oc%20127006.pdf
2 http://www.ihealthbeat.org/articles/2009/9/24/health-care-groups-eye-social-media-tools-for-physician-recruitment.aspx
3 http://www.easternontarioknowledge.ca/dmdocuments/gordon%20hunter%20report%20april%202008.pdf