MISSION:
Attract and retain primary healthcare providers to Lunenburg County, primarily family physicians.

>goals

  1. Expanding partnerships
  2. Expand our team to include physicians and community members
  3. Partnership pitch to NSHA, DAL, NOWLC, DNS, LCCF, DH&W, Dept Senior
  4. Secure funding: DNS, Auxiliary, Foundation, Municipalities, Private Sector
  5. Further develop the relationship to Health Authority Retention and Recruitment working group (shared benefit and value exchange
  6. NOWLC as a prototype for community partnership in retention
  7. Meeting with NSHA recruitment lead, to figure out roles
  8. Advancing physician recruitment and retention
  9. Education and engagement of the public (overcoming turf protection and regionalism, inviting personal responsibility, inviting funding for the effort)
  10. Engagement in the healthcare system (breaking down silos and systemic limitations to individual support) 

 >agreements

  • This is about moving attraction and retention towards a system that functions effectively in an ongoing way.
  • Participatory and collaborative approach into the system and across the region.
  • This is not someone else's job to do - we’re not going wait, we will organize as a community to advance the purpose and mission. 
  • We can only do this in partnership with NSHA, Dalhousie, DH&W, DNS, Department of Seniors … and others yet to be discovered …
  • We build partnerships to pursue our purpose and mission. Partnerships will not result in mission drift or a pivot in the focus of the work. (How does your mandate fit what we are doing?)
  • We must break down silos to serve the bigger purpose and mission.
  • The learnings and outcomes of our work echo beyond the boundaries of our county.
  • Seek out data and turn it into knowledge to inform citizens and influence decision making (e.g. walk in clinic data, presentations at public event).

 >estimated commitment

  • Partners are committed until April 10th 2020
  • Monthly partnership meetings  (90 minutes -> One hour)
  • Action team meetings in between
  • Secure a funding for ongoing costs

 >scope

  • A citizen lead engagement around healthcare in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.
  • A balance of making visible the trade-offs and choices available for our health care and gathering public voice to inform decisions and decision makers.
  • Moving the conversation from local protectionism to regional thinking that puts people’s health in the centre rather than turf protection.
  • Moving towards a wellness system rather than largely a disease treatment system.
  • An engagement is only worth doing if there are tangible issues and decisions we can impact.
  • We know we are embarking on path that will encounter some entrenched cultural issues such as the rural /urban divide, rural internet, public transport, education, regional protectionism. 

>what we have done

  • Experimented working with NOWLC and DNS as partnership
  • Raised profile of NOWLC
  • Spoke to Caucus
  • Public Event
  • Physicians Event
  • Letter to the Dean at Dal
  • Engaged NSHA and DNS
  • Launched Community Teams
  • Residents Meeting
  • Met with the Auxiliary and the Foundation
  • Three Physician Lunches and Dinners (ongoing) 
  • Participated in Rural Week
  • Partnered with the private sector to produce a recruitment campaign
  • Accepted donations to carry out the campaign

>what we have achieved

  • Our events and partnership leading the way, setting a standard
  • Response from the Dean
  • Awareness of possibility for community dried change
  • Trust (and hope!) building with physicians
  • Invited to the recruitment table
  • Opened up DNS to community partnerships

>what we have discovered

  • There’s no big bang, this is a process
  • Current recruitment process / person is insufficient
  • DNS and NOWLC led each other credibility
  • There are various pieces of the system that need to change (transition, accommodation for interns etc -make a list!)
  • The system is complex!
  • We need some money, it’s not easy to find
  • How competitive communities are for physicians, we need to up our game
  • Need to move beyond crisis to a new system 
  • Physicians recruitment is our focus and leverage point
  • People want to help but the system limits them


ARE YOU A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER INTERESTED IN MOVING TO LUNENBURG COUNTY?
​TINA WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Sometimes our work is as simple as connecting a new physician to one already practicing here...
​"Hello Dr Tom Dietz., meet Dr. Tarah Millen. 
​
Tom, Tarah is amazing and is really helpful in helping doctors get the "lay of the land".  She also works at the hospital in Lunenburg.  She's happy to welcome you and encourages you to reach out to her. Best via email first (I've cc'd her on this). 

Tom, as for the community piece, that's me! If you need to get your children into school, hockey, art or dance. If you'd like to learn about the community and all that we offer I can direct you. If you have a partner who is looking for employment or to volunteer, I can learn a little about their wants and hopes and connect them to where they might like to try as well. Just give me an idea of what you'd like to learn and I can start sending you the links you need:) 

Also, if you happen to be in Mahone Bay at the Saltbox Brewery, tonight is Star Wars Trivia, if you're into that, and also Saltbox Sweaters will be there (That's a running group- cute right?). They love new people.
The Mug and Anchor Pub is right down the street if you're looking for a place to have dinner.  Great people, cozy atmosphere.  The Knott Pub in Lunenburg (Looks like a Hobbit's house on the outside, a ship on the inside. It's awesome) Then on Friday night, the amazing Ed Halverson and Lorne Spence are playing at the Grand Banker!  There is also a high school hockey game playing in our facility in Lunenburg. So, if you're a sports fan, that could be fun! I've included links.

​Let me know if you need anything or have any questions. My number is 902-523-5725. 

​Tina