Professional isolation and navigating new, complex health care systems are just some of the challenges newly graduated family physicians and Practice Ready Assessment (PRA) candidates face when moving to rural communities.
In 2023, with funding from the Family Practice Services Committee (FPSC), the East Kootenay Division of Family Practice started the New to Practice Physician Network to better support new-to-community physicians. The program brings together family physicians across the East Kootenay region who are in their first few years of practice for in-person and online events, to connect with their peers and participate in skill-building workshops. Over time, it’s evolved to meet other needs physicians raised, like peer connection, mentorship, stress management and support with billing and finances.
The Network aims to help with retention rates by giving physicians a sense of autonomy, agency, and connection to the community, helping them build and shape a career they are passionate about.
Physicians participating in the program have shared positive feedback on how it's impacted their day-to-day lives, including reframing stress and setting healthier boundaries.
"This session changed my assumptions about managing stress as a physician. My practice has changed by learning techniques to remind myself I am safe in stressful situations, so I don’t amplify my stress response, framing work as a choice rather than an obligation, having more empathy for myself, and when imagining colleagues’ perceptions, taking a kinder view of my decisions and actions” – Program Participantjavascript:void(0);
Divisions interested in implementing this type of network in their community should look for a passionate physician lead, says Program Manager Jacqui van Zyl, establish channels for physician-to-physician connection and listen to the needs of physicians in your community.
About the initiatives:
This work was funded by the Family Practice Services Committee, one of four Joint Collaborative Committees of Doctors of BC and the Ministry of Health.
To learn more about this work or get involved, contact East Kootenay Division of Family Practice Program Manager, Jacqui van Zyl at jvanzyl@ekdivision.ca.