COUNTY DOC
TALK
March 2023
Author: Adam Hambly
A HEARTFELT
GOODBYE TO A DEAR
COLLEAUGUE
Dr. Peter Johannsson, a Rural Family Medicine physician who dedicated more than 40 years to providing care for the people of Prince Edward County, has passed away.
“Dr. Johannsson was a truly dedicated physician. His cancer diagnosis led to declining health but he continued to see patients until the very end…He was unfailingly cheerful, wise, hardworking, respected and loved. His commitment to his community, his patients, and the hospital, over his extensive and satisfying career, was exemplary,” says Dr. Colin MacPherson, Chief of Staff at Quinte Health.
County Docs would like to echo these comments and add that his passing leaves a huge void in the community. We’d like to extend our sincere condolences to his family and friends.
About Us
County Docs is a physician recruitment program committed to showcasing the benefits of living and practicing medicine in beautiful Prince Edward County (PEC). Equally important is our commitment to retaining the amazing physician team we currently have. We are the product of joint efforts from stakeholders in our community, from the municipality and the physician group, to our Hospital Foundation and the community at large.
OUR WEBSITE IS LIVE!
Check us out at www.countydocs.ca
Q: Can County Docs connect me with a Family Doctor?
A: County Docs recruits physicians to the County, but does not place or connect individual patients with doctors. If you require a family doctor, you must register at Health Care Connect online or by dialing 811.
Q: How can I help?
A: The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation has helped us get lift-off in our first year. To learn more about what you can do to support our joint efforts, click here
PROGRAM TRACTION – OUR FIRST 6 MONTHS
It’s been a busy 6 months as we run and build our program at the same time. We’ve built our program infrastructure, committee and governance framework, engagement pathways, marketing and communication strategies, community partnerships and more! We have secured 2 physicians to start this year, one in May and one in September. We have 3 more very promising leads that we hope to report back on soon. And let’s not forget about the launch of our Doctor Accommodation Network (DAN). You can find more information about this on our website.
Current State
We currently have 7 physician vacancies in PEC, with a 8th planned for May 2023. We are working hard to attract new physicians to The County. Here are some of the upcoming initiatives:
- International webinar targetting Canadian medical graduates studying in Australia and the US this month
- Exhibitor at the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada conference in April
- Social media and medical journal ad blitz in May