Northern CEO Pleased By Physician Recruitment

Northern CEO Pleased By Physician Recruitment

Monday, May 11, 2009 at 14:43

The CEO of the Keewatin Yatthe health region says he’s encouraged to see that the province has launched a new strategy to recruit and retain doctors in the province.

Richard Petit says many doctors love it in the North, but it can be hard to attract them there in the first place.

He says if the North were able to hire more doctors, it could allow northern health workers to focus more on other areas.

A director with the medical services branch in Regina says the need for rural doctors is great everywhere.

Brad Havervold says one strategy they’re thinking of would involve sending young doctors to rural areas as part of their training.

Havervold notes retaining medical students in Saskatchewan is a big challenge.

Studies have shown medical students in Saskatchewan are more likely to leave than those in other provinces.