Special Communication Release:

May 1, 2025

Honouring Our Local Family Doctors on Physician Appreciation Day – May 1st

Prince Edward County, Ontario — On May 1st, we recognize Physician Appreciation Day, a time to celebrate and acknowledge the unwavering dedication of our local family doctors. As the cornerstone of our healthcare system, family physicians do more than just care for our physical and mental well-being — they also carry the weight of running a small business, often facing immense challenges.

Across Ontario, family doctors face heavy administrative burdens and rising operational costs, while their government-funded income remains fixed. They pay out-of-pocket for clinic rent, staff wages, office supplies, medical equipment, and technology – all while balancing a full schedule of patient care. In our community, this full schedule includes providing care in the hospital, clinics, long-term care homes, and hospice. They are healers, business owners, employers, and community leaders, often all at once.

In the midst of physician shortages and increasing patient loads, it is more important than ever to show empathy and respect. These professionals work long hours under growing pressure, striving to provide the best care possible, even when the system they work within stretches them thin. The demands are relentless.

This Physician Appreciation Day, County Docs Physician Recruitment and Retention encourages residents to take a moment to recognize the critical role family doctors play in our communities. Continue to be kind, patient, and understanding, and give them the grace and respect they deserve.

If you're concerned or frustrated about your care, we ask that you engage in open and constructive dialogue with your clinic or physician directly. Please avoid turning to social media and community boards to express complaints, as this erodes physician morale and disrespects the efforts of those doing their best under tough circumstances. PEC is a community bursting with charm, small-town kindness, and neighbourly love. Let’s not forget to show that to the doctors who look after us and our families. 

Join me in lifting up the people who lift us up every day. On May 1st, and every day — thank your doctor.