Incentive program attracts new physicians to Huntsville to address shortage in primary care

Amid a critical need for family doctors, the Town of Huntsville is taking steps to attract physicians and tackle the long-standing waitlist for primary care.

Town council launched a Physician Incentive Program in June, resulting in new agreements with several doctors.

Since its inception, the Town says two doctors have already committed to establishing and taking over a practice in the community, and a third is close to signing to open a new practice.

Three other doctors are expected to join next summer, with plans to run existing practices, but the Town says this number is tentative as negotiation discussions continue.

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Town Councillor Bob Stone said the positive response so far is encouraging.

“It’s so great to see these results in such a short time frame - two doctors already signed and several more are pending. It's exciting to know that patients who have been waiting so very long for primary care are finally being taken off the wait list,” said Stone.

To further attract physicians to the community, the Town approved a plan at its Wednesday meeting that would allow staff to offer a $70,000 incentive for physicians who assume existing practices and take on more than 200 local patients from the Algonquin Family Health Team’s waitlist.

Under the program’s conditions, all participating physicians will commit to a five-year service agreement.