1. U of S College of Medicine
Alumni
June 21, 2012

2. saskdocs
• Mission: Promote and support an environment that attracts
and retains the physicians Saskatchewan needs
– Create and deliver programs and services to ENHANCE
recruitment and retention of physicians throughout the
Saskatchewan health care system
– ENGAGE organizations and communities in a collaborative
network that optimizes the recruitment and retention of
physicians
– DEVELOP, recommend and promote policies and practices that
are conducive to the recruitment and retention of physicians
– COMMUNICATE openly and effectively with the public

3. CIHI Report
• 169 physicians/100K population –
ranked 9th among Canadian
provinces (national average
203/100K)
• 2nd fastest growth in number of
physicians in Canada at double the
rate of population growth – however
growth primarily in specialists
• Lowest graduate retention rate in
Canada
• High turnover rate overall
• Highest percentage of IMGs in the
country at 47% (Rural 75% IMGs,
95% from developing countries)
Source: CIHI: Supply, Distribution and Migration of Canadian Physicians,
2010

4. 10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
0
Type of practice environment
Work and personal life balance
Flexible work hours
Sufficient medial competence
Continuing education resources
Research opportunities
Teaching opportunities
Ability to achieve desired income
Electronic health records
Medical support systems/resources
Availability of patient information
Access to care facilities
satisfying and successful practice
Other
Residents' factors influencing having a
No response
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
0
5
Type of practice environment
Work and personal life balance
Flexible work hours
Sufficient medial competence
Continuing education resources
Research opportunities
Teaching opportunities
Ability to achieve desired income
Electronic health records
Medical support systems/resources
Availability of patient information
Access to care facilities
Single most important factor
Other
2010 National Physician Survey
No response

5. 2010 National Physician Survey
SK Family Physician Satisfaction with Work - Personal Life Balance (%)
Family Medicine Residents preferred practice type
Solo practice, 1.5
Don't know, 27 Group practice
association, 27.2
Other, 2.7 Group practice
Interprofessional partnership, 10.5
practice, 30.5
Source: National Physician Survey.
www.nationalphysiciansurvey.ca.
Accessed January 2012.

6. 2010 National Physician Survey
SK Family Physician Satisfaction with Work - Personal Life Balance (%) SK Specialist Satisfaction with Work - Personal Life Balance (%)
Saskatchewan Family Physicians Saskatchewan Specialist Physicians
Very
Very
Dissatisfied,
Very Satisfied, Dissatisfied,
9.8 Very Satisfied,
Somewhat 16.6 10.1
Somewhat 19.1
Dissatisfied, Dissatisfied,
19.7 19.3
Somewhat Somewhat
Neutral, 9.5 Satisfied, 27.6
Satisfied, 37 Neutral, 11.1
Source: National Physician
Survey.
www.nationalphysiciansurvey.ca.
Accessed January 2012.

7. SK Physician Surveys
Exit Survey (one time)
• 150 Physicians leaving SK in
past five years In partnership with the
• 34% response rate SMA, saskdocs has
Settlement Survey (x three years) contracted Insightrix to
• physicians arriving last 6 survey former, current,
and18 months
• 35% response rate and future
Learner Survey (x three years)
Saskatchewan
• 350 current medical students physicians
and residents
• 33% response rate

8. Exit Surveys

9. Exit Survey - Demographics
159 surveys sent to doctors who left
Saskatchewan 2007 - 2011
52 respondents
• 50% completed residency in Canada
• 56% were FP (29 physicians)
• 42% were specialists (22 physicians)
• 60% worked metro (defined as
Saskatoon/Regina)

10. Satisfaction
Overall Satisfaction with Saskatchewan
15 % 52 % 31 %
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Not at all satisfied Not very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Very satisfied
Overall Satisfaction in the "current” role
39 % 59 %
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

11. Satisfaction
Working Conditions Specific Location Specific
Income (including benefits) 46 % 42 % 89 % Specific community that you
44 % 48 % 92 %
practiced in
Professional development opportunities 44 % 40 % 85 %
Compensation method 40 % 44 % 85 % Specific facility that you
46 % 33 % 79 %
practiced in
Access to specialists/therapists on behalf of your
50 % 31 % 81 %
patient
Relationship with colleagues/other healthcare Specific practice/clinic that you
27 % 54 % 81 % 37 % 42 % 79 %
providers were a part of
Adequate support to do your job 52 % 27 % 79 %
Availability of training 48 % 23 % 71 % Proximity to an international
35 % 27 % 62 %
airport
Opportunities for advancement 40 % 25 % 65 %
Mentorship available in your workplace 40 % 25 % 65 % Weather 33 % 10 % 42 %
Work-life balance 39 % 23 % 62 %
Call rotation 35 % 27 % 62 %

12. Correlation to National Physicians
Survey 2010
Satisfaction with current professional life
45
40
35
30
Satisfaction
25
20
15
10
5
0
Very Satisfied Somewhat Neutral Somewhat Very dissatisfied Not Applicable NR
Satisfied Dissatisfied
Satisfaction with Professional Life
Sask 27.6 40.6 6.1 12.1 3.4 0 7.3
Canada 31.2 44.1 6.7 7.9 2.7 1 7.4

13. Primary Reasons for Leaving
Be closer to family 48 %
Location/lack of amenities 32 %
Workload too much 32 %
Weather 28 %
Not enough support 24 %
Compensation not competitive 16 %
Other 14 %
0% 10 % 20 % 30 % 40 % 50 % 60 %

14. What’s Being Done
• U of S recruitment
• National and international recruitment
• Recruitment matching
• SIPPA pre-screening
• Canadians studying abroad
• Engaging stakeholders provincially and inter-
provincially 27% 35%
38%

15. Settlement
Surveys

16. Settlement - Demographics
118 surveys sent to doctors who began practice within the past 18 months
41 Respondents Family
physician
• 34% (17 physicians) are FP’s 34%
• 4 came through SIPPA
• 66% (27 physicians) are specialist
Specialist
66%
• Approximately 50% were here 6 months at the time of survey
• 50% were here 18 months
• 70% practiced in urban settings
• 63% received post graduate medical education in Canada
• 12% appeared to be “new graduates”

17. Anticipated Length of Stay
• 48% intend to stay permanent!
• 61% plan to be here long term(more than 6 years)
Less than a year 8%
One to two years 10 %
Three to five years 23 %
Six to ten years 5%
More than ten years 8%
I don’t anticipate moving from Saskatchewan 48 %
0% 10 % 20 % 30 % 40 % 50 %

18. Satisfaction
Overall Current Satisfaction
29% 61% 10%
Very satisfied Somewhat satisfied Not very satisfied Not at all satisfied

19. Recruited By
Colleagues 44 %
Recruiter in a Saskatchewan Health Region 20 %
No one assisted me with my recruitment or placement 20 %
Private recruitment company 10 %
saskdocs (Physician Recruitment Agency of Saskatchewan) 7%
Other 10 %
0% 10 % 20 % 30 % 40 % 50 %

20. “Soft Landing”
Assistance to obtain documentation to begin banking/working, etc. 39 %
Practice orientation 29 %
Picked up at the airport 24 %
Orientation to the community 22 %
Orientation to facilities and services 20 %
Securing housing 12 %
Orientation to other facilities and services in the community 12 %
Securing transportation 10 %
Assistance to connect with other members of the community 10 %
Educational assistance for your family 7%
Assistance to secure spousal employment 2%
None of the above 54 %
0% 10 % 20 % 30 % 40 % 50 % 60 %

21. What’s Being Done
Recruitment Retention
Financial Incentives
Practice Establishment/Relocation Assistance
Student / Resident Bursaries
Rural Experience
Work – Life Balance
Family Engagement
Collegial Relationships
• Broad consultation
• Incentives research
• Best practices handbook

22. Medical
Learners
Survey

23. Medical Learner - Demographics
• 333 surveys were sent out to medical learners
• 110 respondents completed the survey
• The majority of respondents (60%) consider
Saskatchewan to be their home province
• 34% are either currently taking or intending to take
the family medicine program
• A majority of respondents (79%) feel they are likely
to stay and practice medicine in Saskatchewan

24. Single MOST Important Factor
Work-life balance 45 %
Career opportunities for spouse/partner 13 %
The community as a whole 10 %
Adequate support to do your job 8%
Proximity to family and friends 6%
Income (including benefits) 4%
Professional development opportunities 4%
Commute time 3%
Financial incentives 2%
Availability of training 2%
Ability to access appropriate care facilities for patients 1%
Electronic Medical Records 1%
Flexible work hours 1%
Proximity to an international airport 1%
0% 10 % 20 % 30 % 40 % 50 %

25. Preferences for Call
Evenings
four, 2 zero, 1
three, 3
one, 12
two, 18

26. Preferred Community
Saskatchewan Residents/Medical Canadian FM Residents
Students National Physician Survey
Other, 15%
Unsure, 16%
Metro, 38% Cities/Urban,
38%
Regional, 11% Unsure, 13%
Small Town,
Rural/Norhtern, 20% Rural/remote,
35% 14%

27. What’s Being Done
• SMSS and PAIRS Executive meetings
• Co-sponsor PREP – PRAS Rural
Externship Program (U of S, SMA, RHAs)
• Medical practice in Saskatchewan
research project
• Student loan reimbursement
• Retreat and event sponsorship
• Career nights and Horizons Conference
Neil Kalra, PREP 2012
• Academic ½ days

28. Highlights
• Work life balance is a common theme!
• Saskatchewan does hold an appeal to many
• Family is a large driver
• Money appears to have a very “minor” role

29. What’s Being Done
1. Best Practices Handbook
2. Community Engagement
3. Work with you
1. Recruitment
2. Settlement/orientation
3. Community faculty