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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, March 27, 2015 | 14 Trend sees newly-recruited doctors establishing part-time practices by Bob Mitchell Special to the Beaver Halton continues to be aggressive when it comes to attracting new family physicians here. It has to because the Region's needs will only continue to increase as it grows. The good news is graduates and established physicians continue to choose Halton as the place to put down roots, Halton Physician Recruitment Co-ordinator Angela Sugden-Praysner told Halton's Finance and Administration committee members this week. "The level of interest in Halton has continued to be pretty constant over the 11 years I have been in this role," Sugden-Praysner said. "With new hospitals opening and new opportunities for specialists, I think interest in Halton will con- Ready to buy a New Car? Visit www.carcostcanada.com first. Canada's #1 resourCe for wholesale priCe reports. We'll show you all advertised & non-advertised factory incentives & discounts. Denis from Oakville saved over $3,500 with his CarCostCanada report. tinue." Generally, those who decide not to work in Halton still wind up working in the Greater Toronto or Golden Horseshoe Area, she said. A comprehensive physician recruitment and marketing program that began in 2003 has resulted in 219 full-time family physicians establishing practices in the Region, according to information provided to committee members. Of those, 85 set up practice in Burlington, 65 in Oakville, 40 in Milton and 29 in Halton Hills. Recruitment officials are starting to see a different trend with more doctors setting up family practices on a part-time basis, according to a report submitted to committee members. Their part-time practice allows them to combine their work with other roles in hospitals, long-term care facilities, student health centres, sexual health clinics, sports medicine operations, psychotherapy, obstetrics and emergency room settings, the report indicated. Altogether, 15 full-time practices opened in 2014, including eight in Burlington, three in Halton Hills and two in each of Oakville and Milton. Another nine physicians opted to establish parttime practices in offices or clinics. Six family doctors also retired or left practices in 2014 and their roles were filled by newly-recruited physicians. More than 110 family medicine physicians and 20 medical specialists on average have inquired about working in Halton over the past decade. Five of the 11 family medicine residents graduating from the McMaster Halton Family Health Centre, which opened in Burlington in September 2010, have opened practices in Halton. Two have set up shop in Burlington, two in Oakville and one in Georgetown. Half of the new family physicians recruited to Halton over the last four years were medically trained outside of Canada, said the report. As a result of projected retirements and practice patterns changes, officials say the need for new physicians will grow in Halton in future years. In fact, a 2013 study indicated 10 per cent of the existing doctors in Ontario (nine per cent in Halton) will retire over the next two years while another 27 per cent (24 per cent in Halton) would reduce their weekly hours. Interlocking Tumblestone, Retaining Walls, Garden Installation, Sodding & Excavating, Call us at 289-813-3200 Call for FREE Estimate plus more (905) 827-8158 · www.rogerslandscaping.org S t y l e , S e l e c t i o n , Q u a l i t y, e x c e l l e n c e Torlys EvErWood lvT WaTErproof floor CobblE bEaCh Torlys EverWood & EverTile $ 69 ULTIMATE FLOORING beautiful. durable. waterproof floors. 266 Speers Road, Oakville · 905.845.8562 www.speersflooring.com Cruise Holidays of oakville 221 Lakeshore Road East · 905-337-2228 info@cruiseholidaysoakville.com www.cruiseholidaysoakville.com TICO# 4537114 ON REG# 970855995 v Hardwood v Laminate v Stone v Tile v Cork 4 sq. ft.