Town of Fort Macleod sign. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Fort Macleod offering $10K incentives to new physicians

May 10, 2022 | 10:51 AM

FORT MACLEOD, AB – The Town of Fort Macleod is upping its doctor recruitment efforts.

Fort Macleod Town Council has approved the creation of a $10,000 incentive for physicians who sign on with AHS and make a five-year commitment to practice in the town.

Anthony Burdett, Chief Administrative Officer with the Town of Fort Macleod, says there are currently two doctors in the community, as well as those who come to fill in on an as-needed basis.

He told LNN that Alberta Health Services recommends five-to-six physicians for a community of that size.

“I don’t have the data on how many in our community are without a permanent family doctor, but the number is significant, according to Alberta Health Services. So we definitely see the need in our community to attract and retain local medical professionals,” says Burdett.

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The Town’s goal in the short term is to attract at least two more doctors into the community, although Burdett believes that it will take some time to get to the recommended mark of five-to-six.

The financial incentive being offered by the municipality is in addition to the provincial government’s new Rural Education Supplement and Integrated Doctor Experience (RESIDE) Program, announced earlier this year.

It gives new family doctors up to $60,000 in undergraduate tuition reimbursements, and another $20,000 to $40,000 for those who choose to move to select rural communities.

The Town hopes to appeal to prospective physicians with one more incentive: welcome baskets.

Partnering with the Fort Macleod Chamber of Commerce, the Town is reaching out to businesses who want to contribute to the welcome packages. Items could include gift cards, goods, recreation passes, or monetary contributions.

Burdett says they have already seen quite a bit of interest from organizations in the area, but the Town is still looking for more participants.

The goal, he adds, is to keep doctors in the community long after their five-year commitment is over.

“We would love for someone to be so enamoured with Fort Macleod by the time they were done that they would call it home, right? They recognize that this is more than just a town. You know, it’s a very welcoming community and these types of little things would just kind of get the ball rolling for them to experience the town of Fort Macleod and then, hopefully, have a long future here in our community.”

Anyone who is interested in contributing to the welcome packages is asked to contact the Town of Fort Macleod or the Fort Macleod Chamber of Commerce.

READ MORE: Province announces new program to attract & retain rural physicians