Partnership with Our Health Centre paying off for residents
Physician Attraction and Retention
The Municipality of Chester and Our Health Centre (OHC) struck a lucrative partnership just before COVID- 19 hit Nova Scotia last year. The goal? Physician
attraction and retention. The partnership - with funding through Communities, Culture and Heritage Nova Scotia - is designed to improve access to medical services throughout the Municipality - including those at OHC, New Ross Family Resource Centre, and clinics operating out of the Pharmasaves in Chester and Hubbards - supporting the quality of life and economic development in all of our communities. The program positions the Municipality as a welcoming community - a critical first step in an attraction strategy. Facilitating of networking opportunities with local health professionals, offering free tours around the community, and inviting these individuals to social events are some examples of activities that a community can do to make health professionals feel welcome. A key element of the program is an online presence that showcases the lifestyle and assets of the Municipality. Local web developer, Picnic Studios, created www.lovewhereuwork.com as a virtual hello for prospective physicians. The website situates the Municipality of Chester as an ideal location for working professionals by highlighting the comfort and convenience of our close-knit, rural community with its proximity to major centres, healthcare, schools, childcare, and green spaces. And of course our amenities, such as shops, restaurants, trails, cultural venues, and community centres only add to the appeal. The program is moving along nicely. As recent as a couple weeks ago, an interested physician joined municipal staff on a tour of the area. An equally important component of the program is retention. We are greatly appreciative of the services provided to our residents by the current medical team. To show that appreciation, OHC Executive Director Lorraine Burch and Heather Hennigar, Community Economic Development Officer with MOC, visited our local doctors to deliver a “ thank-you” gift box. The boxes were created in partnership with Nova Box and include gifts from local businesses, such as a charcuterie board from Going Coastal, chocolates from Julien’s Bakery, a glass knife from Kiln Art, soap from Nancy’s Seaweed Soaps, and kitchen towel from Far Far Away Shop.
.png "chester-logo-with-tag-reversed (2)"){kind=logo}