The Sylvan Lake Health Professional Attraction and Retention Committee (SLhPARC) had a successful inaugural year.
The reason for the committee’s formation was to unite community members, town council, and administration in the shared goal of welcoming and retaining healthcare professionals within Sylvan Lake, committee member Onsy Tawadrous said.
The committee aimed to address the shortage of family doctors and support the continuous operation of the Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
“The committee underwent the process of defining its direction, terms of reference, and appropriate approaches, with ongoing adjustments. The committee divided into teams, each targeting specific areas to engage and appreciate existing doctors while actively attracting new ones,” Tawadrous said.
Objectives set by the SLhPARC included:
• Developing and implementing strategies for attracting and retaining health professionals
• Collaborating with health patterns to enhance access to resources for healthcare providers
• Facilitating community integration for healthcare professionals and their families
• Enhancing retention through positive community involvement
• Collaborating with other organizations for innovative attraction and retention processes
SLhPARC saw a couple of highlights throughout the past year.
Community tours, air transport and family support were key initiatives focused on welcoming and providing support for new doctors and their families.
At the Yuletide Festival in December, banners, buttons, and stickers were created, displaying community appreciation messages and delivered to five local health offices and facilities.
SLhPARC hosted an evening at a Gulls game, facilitating social interaction between the committee and town doctors, letting them experience another side of the community.
This year, the SLhPARC members are working to continue the committee’s mission of addressing healthcare professional shortages, fostering community integration and spreading their appreciation to the healthcare professionals of Sylvan Lake.
“The committee is looking forward to building on this foundation in the coming years,” Tawadrous said.
