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070529 Physician Recruitment MINMINUTES Town of Tillsonburg Meeting for the Committee "Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee" on Tuesday May 29, 2007 12:00 Noon Council Chambers Chair: Stephen Molnar Orders of the Day: Call to Order Approval of Agenda Approval of Minutes Business Arising from the Minutes New Business Round Table Next Meeting Adjournment PRESENT: Tom McHugh, Dr. H. Lamb, Dr. B. Roth, Dr. G. Rowland, Mayor Stephen Molnar, Councillor Brian Stephenson ABSENT: Dr. J. Andrew, David Morris, John Moylan 1) Approval of Agenda Moved by Dr. Rowland Seconded by Dr. Lamb THAT the Agenda be adopted with the following addition:  SWOMEN Discovery Week (added as Agenda Item 4b – at request of T.McHugh) “Carried” 2) Approval of Minutes - April 24, 2007 Moved by B.Stephenson Seconded by Dr. Roth THAT the Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee Minutes of April 24, 2007 be adopted with the following amendments:  Dr. Barry Roth was present;  Dr. John Andrew was absent. “Carried” 3) Business Arising from the Minutes a) Proposed Incentive Program – feedback from Town and Hospital Board  Mayor Molnar and Councillor Stephenson reported. Council had an opportunity to review the Proposed Incentive Program last evening, at its regular Council Meeting. There were good questions, positive feedback and an indication that we are going in the right direction with this. Questions/comments from Council included: - Number of doctors being targeted? - Looking to review funding mechanism - where money will come from – and limits - Like the idea that we are not just giving money to new recruits - Longevity came up – how long the program would last for a recruit. Councillors thought 1 year may be too short…2, 3 or 5 years if possible.  Mayor Molnar noted, there was definitely a positive response by Council.  The Doctors present were asked to respond, and the comments noted included: - After being here for a year, recruits would know if they wanted to stay in this community. - We could make it a longer term, but would we want someone tied into a contract that doesn’t want to be here? - A contract for more than one year might scare some recruits off. - The offer has to be attractive to them. - One year is good.  Mayor Molnar commented that the terms referenced in the document are that after one year the financial commitment is complete. It’s costing the partnership dollars to bring someone in. If we are talking about greater than one year, are we talking about these same terms and conditions? After one year, are dollars still flowing? There is going to be an evolution. We will learn from the potential recruits. Generally we have come to the conclusion that we are not in the incentive game of cash for doctors.  Councillor Stephenson asked if it would work to approach a student going into first year medicine, that is borrowing everything, offering to help with his/her tuition, for a commitment.  Dr. Rowland responded that the problem with that approach is, there are so many fields to go into, we would not know where the student would end up. Those types of arrangements are not terribly successful.  Councillor Stephenson wondered about offering a recruit X number of dollars for a year, indicating we want him/her here for more than a year, but if he/she decides not to stay in Tillsonburg after the year, there be a claw back.  Dr. Lamb responded that none of us want to get involved with recruits not wanting to come for more than one year. The goal is to give them a year to get established. We will be very careful to find the right person(s), but there are no guarantees.  T.McHugh noted that, in response to Councillor’s Stephenson’s question, the practice for which the recruit is working will incur expenses, so we can’t scrape back. All we are offering direct to the recruit/candidate is $5,000 to move here. It would be a penalty for the practice to scrape back.  Dr. Roth commented that a one year term is important. If it’s not the right thing for everybody, they can shake hands and walk way.  Dr. Rowland commented that we need to be as attractive and non-restrictive as possible. In talking to Queens’ students, they don’t want to be bound/restricted. He feels the proposed program is a good one.  He added that other agencies need to be willing to attract spouses as well.  Dr. Lamb commented that the recruits we are going to attract should take call. We will flush out those that want to just work in an office/clinic. He added that someone can’t live in London, for example, and do the things the doctors here do. We will have a select group of people we will be looking for.  T.McHugh commented that he likes the way living in Tillsonburg is encouraged, but noted there needs to be flexibility, if we are getting the service we need out of an individual.  Dr. Rowland added…that is something to be encouraged, but can’t be forced.  Dr. Lamb noted the advantages of living here…friendships/relationships.  Discussion was held regarding recruit(s) being required to work the equivalent of a full-time practice, and being required to assume equal share of on call and ER work.  Dr. Lamb suggested the recruit(s) would be required to work on a full-time basis, as agreed to by the partners of the recruit.  Dr. Rowland commented that it is the expectation that a recruit would work Emerg.  Dr. Roth noted that in Tillsonburg we are only 1 or 2 bodies short of having gaps. If we attract people that will not work Emerg, we will be faced with closures. He added that it is very lucrative to work Emerg. If we are going to recruit doctors to benefit the community, it is important to recognize the importance of participating in the Emergency Room.  Dr. Rowland agreed that it is important that a recruit participates, but we do need to be flexible.  Dr. Rowland further cautioned regarding getting a little too involved with details. He added that negotiating with too many parties may get cumbersome.  Mayor Molnar added that very soon we will have a document like the one before us. Relatively this is something that there is great interest and support for. This is what the doctors need, as they will be the ones negotiating or introducing this program to potential recruits.  It was noted that this program is not only for those coming out of med school. Anyone with a degree would be considered.  An opportunity for T.McHugh, D.Morris, Dr. Lamb and S.Molnar was suggested, to get this document to a ‘finished’ point.  In terms of number of recruits, T. McHugh noted that 3 recruits is a modest start, and it could be re-assessed. It was added that the odds of getting three recruits this year is slim. b) Update on other previous Action Items 4) New Business a) Professional Association of Internes & Residents of Ontario (PAIRO) Tour  T.McHugh noted that he and Dr. Roth had done a couple sites, as well as others. He came to the conclusion last year, that it was overkill. They are meeting first and second year med students and for both of them to spend 3 days in Ottawa and Kingston, it is too much.  Dr. Roth and T.McHugh to discuss this further following the meeting. b) SWOMEN Discovery Week 5) Round Table  Mayor Molnar noted that the Town has facilitated and signed an agreement with the new Development Commissioner, and he will be starting with the Town the first part of July. He was involved with a physician recruitment program through Economic Development in Barrie.  Mayor Molnar commented that the entire community needs to be educated regarding physician recruitment.  T.McHugh added that evaluating the program will be important as well.  Dr. Lamb proposed a motion to change wording within the draft document…to reflect that a recruit would be expected to pursue a full-time practice. Dr. Lamb provided the following wording to be incorporated into the Financial Incentive (replacing the second last paragraph of the draft document): “The recruit would be expected to pursue a full-time practice, involving hospital and/or ER coverage with hours of work and holiday time agreeable to all parties involved.” 6) Next Meeting: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at 12:00 noon – Council Chambers, Corporate Office 7) Adjournment 1:04 p.m.