We are working closely with community-based recruiters and hospital partners to understand what we are recruiting for across the North for physicians.

The data is an UNDERESTIMATE of need and if we are truly to transform health care delivery to meet the needs of Northern Ontario, there is much work to be done to forecast and measure the population need.

This data is imperfect, but it is the best we have available. To understand the data:

• We need to keep in mind that the data reflects only current contract vacancies and there are challenges about whether current funding allocations meaningfully reflect the number of physicians required to meet the health needs of the population.
• The recruitment of specialists in Northern Ontario’s large centres takes place largely through hospitals and so the data does not completely reflect the need for specialists outside of the hospital setting.

Examples of likely gaps are in the need for allergy specialists, rheumatologists and addiction medicine physicians who may be largely in the community rather than hospital.

• The data does not include any forecasting information nor the unmeasured and unmet need of some of our communities.
• The current need also reflects only the clinical service requirements and does not include the expectations of participation in teaching or other scholarly work that is expected of physicians who are working with a medical university like NOSM  University.

So the data is an UNDERESTIMATE of need and if we are truly to transform health care delivery to meet the needs of Northern Ontario, then we will need more physicians than is noted here. At present however, this is the best estimate for unmet need for physicians that we have.

NOSM University’s role falls broadly in four domains:

As of June 2023, based on data gathered from community and hospital level recruiters, Northern Ontario was recruiting for 384 physicians including:

More than 200 family doctors – most of which are needed as rural generalists in our rural communities.

• 180 specialists with those we need in highest numbers being:
  • Psychiatrists (24)
  • General Internists (22)
  • Pediatricians (7)
  • Anesthetists (15)
  • General surgeons (13)
  • Emergency physicians (either CCFP EM or FRCPC) (>15)

Smaller numbers in key subspecialties like rheumatology, respirology, physiatry,  sleep medicine, interventional cardiology, dermatology, and several others are also needed. Although smaller numbers are needed, these subspecialists are critical to health care services in Northern Ontario.

Expand the heading below to view previously reported data.

As of June 2022, based on data gathered from community and hospital level recruiters, we know that:

In Northern Ontario, communities are actively recruiting for over 350 physicians. Of these, there is active recruitment for more than 150 specialists, and more than 200 family physicians. Of the family physicians, we need 110 to be rural generalists in rural communities across the North, and this is an increase of 10% from June of 2021.

• The specialists we need in highest numbers are:
  • Psychiatrists
  • General Internists
  • Pediatricians
  • Anesthetists
  • Diagnostic imaging specialists
  • Emergency physicians (either CCFP EM or FRCPC)

Smaller numbers in key subspecialties like rheumatology, respirology, physiatry,  sleep medicine, interventional cardiology, dermatology, and several others are also needed. Although smaller numbers are needed, these subspecialists are critical to health care services in Northern Ontario.

Expand the heading below to view previously reported data.

In January 2021, based on data gathered from community and hospital level recruiters, we know that we needed at least 313 physicians across Northern Ontario.  In June 2021, that need increased to 325 physicians, with an increase in the need for family physicians and rural generalists in particular.

Breakdown of the 325 physicians needed: 135 family physicians, 97 of those in rural communities. 4 enhanced skill FPs in care of the elderly, FPA, palliative care 166.5 specialists, in a variety of disciplines, 18.5 hospitalists and emergency medicine physicians (either FP or specialists)

The specialists we needed in highest numbers were: Psychiatrists General Internists Pediatricians Anesthetists Diagnostic imaging specialists Emergency physicians (either CCFP EM or FRCPC)

For more information about working as a physician in Northern Ontario, please see the HFO jobs portal here or visit specific community listings at https://jobconnect.health/

Office of Physician Workforce Strategy
Email: physicianworkforce@nosm.ca