Marathon works. How to thrive in rural practice

Area of Science:

• Rural Health
• Medical Practice Management
• Physician Retention

Background:

• Rural Canada faces persistent challenges with physician shortages impacting healthcare access.
• Sustaining medical practices in rural areas requires innovative strategies to attract and retain physicians.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a sustainable, collegial family practice group in a rural community.
• To address the healthcare needs of a chronically underserved rural population.

Main Methods:

• Incorporated physician well-being elements to boost retention and recruitment.
• Developed a consensus-based decision-making model for a supportive team environment.
• Implemented regular communication channels (meetings, retreats, online forums) and flexible scheduling options.
• Introduced a novel obstetric call system for improved schedule predictability.
• Utilized an alternative payment plan supporting varied work, non-clinical duties, and health projects.

Main Results:

• Achieved a stable number of physicians in the rural practice.
• Increased the volume of healthcare services provided to the community.
• Fostered a supportive and collegial practice environment.

Conclusions:

• The implemented group practice model successfully sustains physician numbers in rural settings.
• This innovative approach enhances the delivery of healthcare services in underserved areas.
• Physician well-being and collegiality are key factors in rural practice sustainability.