BCMA President champions rural docs

VICTORIA:  BCMA President Dr. Shelley Ross told an audience of about 900 rural physicians from across the country that everyone has a role to play in helping to address physician shortages in their communities.

“I think one of the most important things we can do for our patients – is to get the word out to our young medical students and residents that setting up a practice in rural BC can be extremely rewarding – because it is!” said Dr. Ross. “In fact, let’s start getting the word out in high school – focusing on students with an interest in becoming physicians.”

Dr. Ross speaking to rural physicians at conference in Victoria

Dr. Ross made the comments as part of her welcoming address on the second day of the Rural and Remote Medicine Conference in Victoria.  She talked about the life-changing experiences that can be had when practicing in rural and remote areas, and the challenges.  In rural areas, a doctor is an integral and essential part of a community, highly valued and often sought.  However, for a rural doctor there are fewer resources available and fewer colleagues to rely on for support and advice.

Dr. Ross outlined how BC has tackled the challenge of attracting physicians to rural and remote communities.  She said an important element in BC has been the collaboration between the BCMA and the provincial government.  The Joint Standing Committee (JSC) on Rural Issues is comprised of the BCMA and the government, with representation from each Health Authority and rural physicians.  Its goal is to provide more and better health services by recruiting and retaining rural doctors.

The JSC has developed a number of collaborative programs, including the recently announced Rural Physicians for British Columbia Incentive. This initiative offers doctors who are relocating to eligible rural and remote communities $100,000 for a three-year commitment of service. Dr. Ross stated “Past experience tell us that when doctors live in a rural area for three or more years, they will often buy homes, start families – in other words, plant roots in the community.”

Dr. Ross also spoke about the BCMA’s on-the-ground connection with rural communities through the Rural Coordination Centre of BC, which works with rural physicians to identify issues for the JSC to address.
Since 2009-2010, there has been a seven percent increase in the number of doctors practicing in rural communities, however as Dr. Ross stated, “it is still not enough” and she had some suggestions on how we can tackle this shortage in a meaningful way.  These suggestions included:

• Identifying students interested in medicine and demonstrating the value of practicing rural medicine.
• Cultivating medical students to consider rural medicine by offering study and work opportunities in rural communities.
• Working with medical schools to manage the demand for more physicians through strategic planning.
• Looking at ways to bring more Canadian students studying abroad back to BC to do their residences, with the condition that they must practice for a minimum of five years in rural communities.

Dr. Ross with Dr. Larsen-Soles

Dr. Ross also participated in meeting of Mothers in Medicine. She said rural areas need to ensure they have the supports in place for women physicians to practice in rural areas - such things as good schools, community programs, and child care. 

Dr. Ross observed “there is so much experience gathered in this room today, we need you to continue to share your lessons with us. You are in the perfect position to drive change.” Dr. Ross concluded that rural physicians need to advocate for the supports to improve rural health service and delivery – “you know your patients and your challenges – you need to remain an active voice for change."