Caring for Those Who Care
Every day at Timmins and District Hospital, we see care in many forms. We see clinicians delivering complex treatment. We see teams working together to navigate complex patient needs. And
August’s warm days often lend way to cooler nights, which always makes me think of back to school and the joy of learning new things.
As a hospital we’re closely tied to the rhythms of the school year through our connection to high school students, who volunteer with us, as well as learners from colleges who spend time with us on placements and receiving training. One of our strongest partnerships is with learners from the Northern Ontario Medical School University (NOSM U).
Through our NOSM U partnership, Timmins and District Hospital (TADH) receives a regular stream of learners who spend time with our staff and patients and benefit from our innovative approaches to care, one of which is our newly developed Simulation Lab. To support training at the lab we’ve developed a core group of instructors certified by Simulation Canada and Keystone, ensuring an evidenced-based approach to education. Our training capacity is further strengthened through our strong partnership with the Labelle Innovation and Learning Centre at Health Sciences North (HSN) helping to shape the next generation of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.
NOSM U is not the only medical school sending learners to our hospital. We welcome students/residents from medical schools across the province on summer and elective placements and job shadows. In addition, nurses and other health professionals are also trained in the lab through an extensive list of courses that keeps growing.
Learning at our hospital extends beyond students still in school. We take a leadership role providing both in-house training to staff as well as clinical training and education for people at the eleven (11) Northern hospitals that rely on our services. We also provide training to support partners such as long-term care homes, dentist offices, primary care providers, pharmacies, and First Nations.
The hospital offers a range of training, both in-house and through outreach, including operating room skills, intravenous starts, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Life Support, Trauma Nursing Core Course, Emergency Nurse Pediatric course, and triage courses. In addition, TADH also offers district support for withdrawal management.
One of our Strategic Plan’s priorities is to improve the experience and well-being of health providers, with the goal of leading the retention and recruitment of health professionals for the North. Providing training and learning opportunities is one way we are investing in our team and advancing this strategic priority.
We are working with partners, including the City of Timmins and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, on a plan to recruit 10 physicians a year to Timmins over the next three years. So far, the Timmins Physician and Recruitment plan is on track to meet this year’s record-setting goal with five physicians recruited within the first six months of 2025. In January, we recruited two specialists, Dr. Lydia Goff, an orthopedic surgeon, and Dr. Natasha Larocque, a radiologist, and in July we welcomed three physicians: Dr. Devon Aitken, Dr. Sebastian Diebel, and Dr. Michael Schmidt, a radiologist.
These newest physicians made the leap in part because they were familiar with us. Dr Diebel did a Family Residency with our hospital, Dr. Aitken grew up here, and Dr. Schmidt has provided care to patients here through locums.
In addition to being closer to his family and benefiting from the hospital’s wide range of professional opportunities, Dr. Aitken spoke about the unique and welcoming culture at TADH. “The hospital has a very supportive culture from physicians to nurses and other allied health and administration – something I’m very appreciative of, especially being a new doctor.”
All three physicians spoke about the collegial atmosphere at the hospital, the warmth of the people of Timmins, and the natural beauty of the area.
That’s our biggest recruitment asset: all of you and this beautiful part of the province. So, thank you in helping recruit and retain skilled health care professionals to the North!
Wishing all of you a great remainder of summer and many learning opportunities for the fall.
Take care,
Every day at Timmins and District Hospital, we see care in many forms. We see clinicians delivering complex treatment. We see teams working together to navigate complex patient needs. And
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