Orillia doctor shortage reaching dire levels
The City of Orillia is investing in attracting health care providers as looming retirements could mean thousands are left without a family doctor.
"There's some impending retirements that are on the horizon that could make the situation pretty dire." Dr. Matt Miller heads up Orillia's Physician Retention and Recruitment Committee tasked with battling the city's ever-growing waitlist of residents without a family physician.
"With the amount of retirements we have identified over the next two years, it could be closer to 12,000 residents that could be unattached from a family physician, which means lower access to primary care, could mean longer wait times in emerge," Miller said.
The City is nearly doubling its funding to the committee, with an additional $16,000 to help it draw family doctors to the area, but Dr. Joel Runk said the problem is province-wide, with a limited number of physicians to go around.
"And everybody's competing for the same pool of talent," the Orillia doctor noted.
Runk has been practicing in the Sunshine City for eight years. He said the past two years had been difficult on all front-line workers, including doctors and their staff.
"Burnout is definitely something that is talked about a lot right now and definitely something that we're all feeling whether it be in the office, or in the hospital or other community care settings," he added.
The committee is focusing on the medical trainee program to keep local doctors from heading elsewhere.
"For us, it's about showcasing the community and why people that practice here enjoy practicing where they live," Miller said.
Twelve new family physicians are needed in Orillia, or it's estimated roughly one in three residents could be without a doctor within the next 18 months.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Here's how much more Canadian landlords are asking for now, according to a just-released report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
What is basic income, and how would it impact me?
Parliamentarians are considering a pair of bills aiming to lift people out of poverty through a basic income program, but some fear these types of systems could result in more taxes for Canadians who are already financially struggling.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Out-of-control wildfire burning near Fort McMurray
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, the wildfire burning 28 kilometres southwest of the northeastern Alberta city was 25 hectares in size.
Mexico's president accuses press and volunteer searchers for missing people of 'necrophilia'
The administration of Mexico's president has accused the press and volunteer searchers who look for the bodies of missing people of 'necrophilia,' comments that drew criticism this week.