Northern Health is enlisting its doctors to help recruit more doctors through a recently launched recruitment website.
The health authority is counting on the ability of physicians who already live in the north to sell the region to potential recruits.
"This isn't a silver bullet, but what we know is web resources are important and the use of multimedia is important in the recruitment process," Northern Health spokesman Steve Raper said. "I think what's key to this is we've really focused on physicians telling their stories to other physicians and that's something we haven't done real well and I don't think anyone really focuses on it quite like we have."
Raper expects the centrepiece of the site to be video testimonials by physicians touting positive aspects of the region. Currently there are only two videos on the site, but he expects more will be posted soon.
Rather than get the physicians to give comprehensive accounts of why they practice in the north, Northern Health is asking them to focus on the one reason why they enjoy the place they've chosen to work.
"Let's focus on the one thing that the physician likes and if there are two or three in that community then they'll talk about different things and that will paint a great picture of that community and that practice," Raper said. "When you add 10 or 15 across the north, that will paint an even different picture of all the different opportunities across northern B.C."
The site also includes brief descriptions of each community in Northern Health, what medical facilities are available and what positions are currently seeking applications. There are also resources available for doctors currently practicing in the region.
For Prince George, the site highlights the teaching opportunities available at UHNBC, the recreation options in and around the city and the fact that the community will play host to the 2015 Canada Winter Games.
The site currently lists 12 vacancies in the city, including three family doctors, three psychiatrists, three internal medicine specialists, a dermatologist, a geritrician and an endocrinologist.
Some communities in the regions currently have no vacancies, including McBride, Mackenzie and Fort St. James. In Vanderhoof only one position is posted and in Quesnel there are two.
While the picture in the northern interior at the moment is relatively bright, Raper said a few retirements or departures by physicians can quickly change the situation.
"There is a global supply issue with physicians so we have to constantly be vigilant and looking for physicians and opportunities to place physicians in communities that need them," he said.
Raper expects the site to grow over time, not only with more testimonials, but also with more content about each community as local partners join in to help sell their market.
"It's certainly much better of a resource than we've had in the past," Raper said. "But the proof is in the end goal - are we attracting physicians to communities that need them - and those will be measured over time."
Northern Health is also looking at creating a similar site to help recruit other healthcare professionals to the region, but Raper said that project is still in the early stages.
"We know it's just as important to focus on what a nurse does and why they like to live and work in a particular community," he said.
The physician site is online at physicians.northernhealth.ca
