With the global physician shortage, it is essential we stand above the fierce competition. From our very first encounter with a physician, we put our best foot forward and demonstrate that we offer a career and life like no other. We want you and your family members to see yourselves calling Prince Edward Island your new home. A place where you can belong and feel supported.
At the same time, we want to hire physicians who will fit well within our proud and unique healthcare system and Island life. We are hiring our future colleagues, neighbours, and friends.
To achieve this recruitment experience and ultimately our desired hiring success, we knew we needed to think and act differently than other health regions across the country.
That’s why in 2021, Prince Edward Island launched a new recruitment model— Physicians Recruiting Physicians. Three organizations—the Department of Health and Wellness (Government of Prince Edward Island), the Medical Society of Prince Edward Island, and Health PEI—joined forces to create a streamlined, positive, and effective recruitment experience for physicians.
At the centre of this model is immersing physicians into the recruitment process, including adding Dr. Megan Miller, Chief Physician Recruiter, employed by the Medical Society, to join the government’s recruitment team. This creates a physician-to-physician experience and adds the physician perspective to how we recruit. Other PEI physicians are also keen to support the process, whether that is having a virtual chat with someone who is interested in knowing what it is like to work or raise a family in a certain community, or hosting a site visit to introduce a new physician to a community of physicians.
Equally important is having Health PEI (the hiring body or employer) and government work side by side, striving to ensure job opportunities align with prospective PEI physician interests, high quality information flows freely to help candidates make informed choices, and that the hiring process is clear and straightforward.
At the end of the day, all parties understand our province is one of many options when it comes to making a career choice. We want to excel in our effort to earn their decision to say yes to the job and to Prince Edward Island.
In the first year of recruiting under this model, we saw a 55 per cent increase in the number of physicians who decided to call PEI their new home.
The Partners
The Department of Health and Wellness Recruitment and Retention Secretariat
The Department of Health and Wellness provides oversight to health services in the province in accordance with the Health Services Act. It establishes an accountability framework, standards for health services, performance targets, policy or guidelines for the management of operations and delivery of services and approves business plans and budgets.
The Department also provides leadership in all matters related to public health and health promotion and informs policy to improve the health and well-being of citizens.
The Medical Society of Prince Edward Island
MSPEI leads, represents and supports PEI physicians. It is the united voice of PEI physicians and the sole-bargaining agent. MSPEI strives to help physicians achieve the highest level of professional satisfaction so they can focus on providing quality patient care.
Health PEI
Health PEI is an arm’s length crown corporation responsible for the operation and delivery of publicly funded health care services in Prince Edward Island (PEI). In accordance with the Health Services Act, the Health PEI Board of Directors sets the strategic direction for Health PEI within the parameters of the Act and subject to direction from the Minister of Health and Wellness. Through the Board Chair, the Board is accountable to the Minister for the management and control of Health PEI as established in the Act. The Board is connected to the operational organization, its achievements and conduct through the Chief Executive Officer of Health PEI.