The Chair Of The Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance Brought Board Members Up To Date On A Two-Edged Problem Facing The Four Hospitals

by Bob Montgomery

HPHA Chair John Wilkinson pointed out that a large percentage of healthcare professionals at the HPHA are baby boomers, and therefore are likely to retire in the next ten years.

He added, this is happening at a time when more and more baby boomers need more care in their hospitals. And unfortunately, the increase in patients and shortage of caregivers is a problem facing hospitals across the country.

Wilkinson says they have a two-pronged strategy to deal with the problem. First, they believe in a "grow your own" approach. There are plenty of their local, young people in high school, college and university, who they know would consider a career at the HPHA if they were aware of all of the possibilities. So, they have programs that allow young people to see firsthand what they do and what they have to offer. They also have access to financial support programs to help offset the cost of their education if they agree to come back home after their training and work at the HPHA.

Secondly they have recognized that a great, new source of professionals are people who were born and trained in other countries but have decided to make Canada their home. Normally, those immigrants tend to live in the big cities where there are existing communities that speak their language, enjoy the same food and worship together. So, it is up to the HPHA to convince those people of the amazing opportunities to work and raise their families in Clinton, Seaforth, St. Marys and Stratford. Part of that effort is to ensure that the HPHA is a truly welcoming place for all of their patients and staff. Therefore, they have, for the past number of years, focused on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility awareness.

This is important because patients will not recover as well if they feel they are not accepted for who they are. The many volunteers and visitors supporting their patients will not want to be in a place where they are treated as second class citizens. Staff will not make their career with them if they and their family do not feel welcome. It is up to the people at the HPHA, as a caring organization, to reinforce a culture where everyone is accepted for who they are. That is why they are so proud of their efforts, day in and day out, to be a welcoming organization.

Wilkinson says the good news is that if they look at the last names of the over 1,200 dedicated people who work for the HPHA they see their plan yielding results. First, they quickly recognize names of people whose families have lived in Huron and Perth County for generations. For this group, they have come back home after their training to live close to their families. But what really stands out to him is the large number of new names of people who have moved to our beautiful part of Ontario. Many have recently immigrated to Canada as foreign trained professionals. For this second group, they have decided to put down roots and raise their families in one of our four vibrant, rural communities. This is testament that our communities continue our centuries old tradition of welcoming newcomers to Canada.

Wilkinson maintains that being a truly caring community is the best way to ensure that our communities will continue to receive the best of care at the HPHA.

John Wilkinson - Chair Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance

Photo courtesy of HPHA