Memo to the Edson and Yellowhead County healthcare region

Recent Physician and other healthcare professional shortages in Edson have initiated
the formalization of local community members to assist where gaps occur in marketing,
attracting, retaining and integrating our local healthcare workers. This new group is
called the Edson and Yellowhead County “Attraction and Retention Committee” (ARC)
and is a formal sub-committee of the Community Care Foundation of Edson and
District.
ARC formed last fall under the guidance of the Rural Health Professions Action Plan
(RhPAP), which is designed to assist with groups like this across the province. Official
terms of reference and membership guidelines were developed to ensure ARC is
focused and responsive to the jurisdictional areas that are within their ability. The
Community Care Foundation of Edson and District oversees the terms of reference and
financial spending approvals.

Who belongs to the Edson regional Attraction and Retention Committee?
A variety of community members based on their relationship to the Healthcare
Professional shortage began the formation of ARC. These include individuals from the
Foundation, Edson Medical Center, a retired physician, AHS employees, Primary Care
Network, local active Physicians, Mayors’ of Edson and Yellowhead County, Council
representatives from the Town of Edson and Yellowhead County, local real estate agent,
Community Welcome Project (formerly called Welcome Wagon), Edson and District
Settlement Services, community volunteers and individuals who were previously
involved with physician attraction when Edson had shortages about 10 years ago. This
group is working in collaboration with our AHS regional Physician recruiter, MLA Long
and all of the organizations mentioned with participating members.

What is the goal of ARC?
To attract, retain and integrate qualified healthcare professionals to the Edson region to
support a sustainable healthcare system. Prioritization is determined by the areas of
health care providers who are in greatest need. ARC has determined the greatest need
is to attract, integrate and retain enough physicians and other healthcare professionals
to meet the healthcare needs of Edson.

Can ARC hire new Physicians?
No, ARC does not have the authority to hire new physicians. However, ARC can
market, advertise, and aggressively attract physicians to the Edson AHS doctor job
advertisements so they can be hired by AHS for hospital needs and the Edson Medical
Center for primary care needs. There are currently major plans underway to advertise
and market Edson in the locations that physicians read, visit, or attend. If you are not a
physician, it is unlikely that you will see the marketing efforts as it is carefully tailored to
prospective physicians.

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How long does it take to get a new Physician in Edson?
Depending on if they are coming from within Alberta, outside of the province or outside
of the Country, it can take anywhere from 3-12 months to get a physician working in
Edson after they sign the hiring papers with AHS for hospital needs and then the Edson
Medical Center for primary care needs. There are requirements physicians must fulfill to
ensure they are qualified and have a full understanding of the AHS systems, in addition
to leaving their current role and moving their family. ARC realizes this is a challenge and
understands that it will require regularly having prospective physicians in the queue over
the short and medium term to fill our shortage.

Who is funding ARC for their objectives?
The Community Care Foundation of Edson and District is our main funding contributor.
We have received some seed funding dedicated specifically to marketing and attraction
from both the Town of Edson and Yellowhead County, despite this being out of their
jurisdictional responsibility. There is also an opportunity to apply for limited grants
through RhPAP. If anyone from the community would like to donate to assist with ARC
objectives, please contact the Community Care Foundation of Edson and District as tax
receipts can be issued.

When is Edson getting more Physician to take on new patients?
ARC is in collaboration with AHS and the Edson Medical Centre and are aware of the
current and future state of physicians in Edson. There are doctor(s) currently in the
3–12-month queue to work in Edson, but until they are here and ready to work, their
announcements will not be posted. When the Edson Medical Centre is aware of the
date(s) of new physicians arriving in Edson, it will be announced to the Community so
they can begin booking appointments. Please do not contact the Edson Medical Centre
to inquire as they do not have any information to share until an announcement is made.

If you have time and are a supporter of our healthcare workers, how you can
help?
ARC is currently looking for more volunteers to assist with our marketing and retention
objectives. If you have time to volunteer, are fluent with computers and are an advocate
of the Edson region, please contact the Community Care Foundation of Edson and
District via email communitycarefoundationedson@gmail.com with a note in the subject
line that you want to volunteer for ARC. ARC meets a few evenings a month to get their
work done. And lastly, please thank healthcare workers that have contributed and
continue to contribute to the well-being of our community. We appreciate they’ve chosen
Edson.