Office Finding Innovative Solutions for Healthcare Recruitment
The new Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment has hit the ground running to ensure the Province recruits and retains enough doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals for Nova Scotians to get the care they need.
“We’re doing things differently to solve healthcare problems in Nova Scotia,” said Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson. “That means developing comprehensive strategies and out-of-the-box approaches. We’re already guaranteeing a job for every graduating nurse who wants to work in Nova Scotia. More innovative actions like this are coming.”
The Office is working with communities and key partners and stakeholders – within and outside government – to understand what is working, where there are gaps and challenges, and how to seize opportunities to boost the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals.
Initiatives underway include:
- ensuring incentives help to not only recruit but also retain healthcare professionals
- developing a Nursing Mentorship Program and an online tool to help match new graduates with jobs in Nova Scotia
- working with Emergency Health Services (EHS) to continue recent progress on recruitment and retention of paramedics
- exploring ways to connect more community-based doctors with certain specialists
- exploring onsite child care in long-term care facilities to help recruit and retain continuing care assistants.
The Office is organizing meetings with all family medicine residents across the province, starting in Cape Breton. The Office is also working with Dalhousie Medical School and community groups so these residents can visit clinics and connect with practising doctors.
For fully licensed doctors in other parts of Canada, the College of Physicians and Surgeons has already streamlined the process for getting licensed in Nova Scotia, making it faster and easier. There is now minimal documentation required and a licence can be issued in a few days or less.
Quotes:
“The Office is committed to coming up with creative and innovative solutions to recruit and retain all sorts of highly qualified healthcare professionals to our province. Getting out and connecting with people in all corners of our healthcare system is key to building a system that’s accessible and properly staffed to serve Nova Scotians.”
– Dr. Kevin Orrell, Deputy Minister and CEO, Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment
“The fully licensed doctor elsewhere in Canada wishing to practice here will be licensed in Nova Scotia quickly and without hassle. We are working closely with Dr. Orrell and his team to support their recruitment efforts.”
– Dr. Gus Grant, Registrar and CEO, Nova Scotia College of Physicians and Surgeons
Additional Resources:
Minister Thompson’s mandate letter: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-DHW.pdf