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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, May 4, 2012 · 34 Your Halton Connection May 2012 www.halton.ca Recognizing & celebrating Halton's physicians by Regional Chair Gary Carr The week of April 30 to May 4, 2012 is Physician Appreciation Week in Halton. During this week, Halton Region and local hospitals recognize physicians for their contribution to our community. The week was originally designated in 2003 by the Halton Physician Recruitment program. Attracting new physicians to establish medical practices in Halton is a priority in Halton's Citizens' Priorities Action Plan. The Physician Recruitment program addresses both current physician needs and the needs of the future. The program ­ very much a collaborative effort involving representatives from all four Local Municipalities, local hospitals, clinics and community representatives ­ is well on its way to meeting the goal of a family doctor for every Halton resident. Halton Region's award winning Physician Recruitment program has helped bring 160 new family doctors to Halton since 2003. Additionally, a number of family physicians have been recruited to cover maternity and other leaves, and several other new family physicians have established part-time practices here. The program also assists hospitals with their specialist recruiting, such as psychiatrists, pediatricians, emergency room physicians and hospitalists. The Physician Recruitment Coordinator supports the Halton McMaster Family Health Centre family medicine teaching unit, which has six first year family medicine residents and is expecting another six to join this summer. Last year, the program partnered with the "Doctor's Hockey Club," (physicians from across Halton and Mississauga), to host the 2011 Docs on Ice charitable hockey tournament in Oakville. The tournament raised over $150,000 for the Alzheimer Society of Hamilton Halton. With the funds raised, the Society's Oakville office was able to open the new Docs on Ice Dementia Resource Centre on Wyecroft Rd. in Oakville in January 2012. We are truly fortunate as a community that our physicians are committed to excellence and work so hard to deliver high-quality care to patients. This commitment goes beyond the time spent in a practice or hospital setting. Halton doctors give back to the community through events such as Docs on Ice. They support each other by sharing their knowledge. They mentor and serve as role models for medical students and medical residents. Halton doctors are also incredibly supportive of the Physician Recruitment program and are a big part of its success. Healthy communities rely on accessible, quality medical care. Whether welcoming new life, treating daily health issues or performing life saving surgery or giving back to the community through volunteer efforts and mentoring, Halton's physicians play a big role in high quality of life we enjoy in Halton. During Halton Physician Appreciation Week, we join together as a community to say thank you to all of Halton's dedicated physicians. Our doctors help to make Halton a wonderful place to live, work, raise a family and retire. Thank you for making such an incredible difference, each and every day. To see a list of newly recruited doctors who are accepting patients across Halton, visit www.halton.ca/newphysicians. For more information on the physician recruitment program, visit www.haltondoctors.ca, contact Angela Sugden-Praysner by dialing 311, 905-825-6000, ext. 7929, or toll free 1-866-4425866, TTY 905-827-9833. Did you know? hospitals: Provided care Emergency Department clinic visits operating room surgeries Taught and supervised hundreds of medical students and residents Here's what Halton residents have to say about their physicians illness that required hospitalization. My family physician...was incredible throughout the entire process and was able to get me in to see several specialists very quickly and followed up with me repeatedly. I credit [my doctor's] quick, caring response and prompt referral for my ultimate recovery. I can't thank her enough!" "...had the same GP for over 20 years. Someone who embodied a holistic approach to both physical and mental health, was always readily available to listen, to talk, to discuss...Sadly I did not fully appreciate what I had until he retired...Fast forward more than a few years...I now have what I thought was lost, a genuine GP! Whether it has been agreeing to disagree over the recommended pill of the day...stubbornly overruling my indignation, protests, and being sent off to ER complete the walk-in clinic - What is there not to appreciate!" "I wouldn't be alive today if not for my physician." "I will never forget my family doctor's quick and immediate response to our daughter's symptoms. She on the spot, and sent us to emergency to deal with our daughter's life threatening condition. We have a great family doctor and a wonderful team of medical specialists behind us each and every step of the way." Halton Region Meeting Schedule May 9, 9:30 a.m. Regional Council May 21 May 22, 9:30 a.m. Health & Social Services Cte May 23, 9:30 a.m. Planning & Public Works May 23, 1:30 p.m. Administration & Finance May 30, 9:30 a.m. Regional Council Meetings can be viewed at www.halton.ca. We welcome your feedback. Contact Access Halton at accesshalton@halton.ca Please let us know as soon as possible if you will have an accessibility or accommodation need at a Halton Region hosted event or meeting. This page has been donated by this newspaper to communicate important information to Halton residents at no cost to taxpayers.