K.C. Jordan, LJI Journalist
CISSSO’s Pontiac director Nicole Boucher-Larivière is hoping the package of financial incentives offered this summer to radiology technologists in the Pontiac will help attract more applications to the region’s hospital.
Last week, four radiology technologists were slated to leave their jobs at the Pontiac Hospital for higher-paying jobs in the urban centre, until the government offered an additional $4,000 to the $18,000 bonuses they were already set to receive.
This equalized the amount offered in Pontiac, Wakefield and Maniwaki hospitals with the $22,000 bonuses offered to techs at the Gatineau, Hull and Papineau hospitals.
After this news, three of the four technologists who were still considering moving to city positions ultimately decided to stay in their current posts, while the fourth is still following through on their departure.
Boucher-Larivière said CISSSO is happy to have avoided a break in service at the Pontiac Hospital, but noted that even after the majority of technologists decided to stay in their Pontiac jobs, there are still three out of eight full-time technologist positions that need to be filled. Two of these positions are currently being staffed by retirees who have returned to help out part-time.
Boucher-Larivière said it can be hard to attract applicants, but hopes the $22,000 in bonus money, which will also be extended to new hires, will help bring in applications.
“They also got an increase when they were working during the summer to make sure the holidays were covered, plus the $22,000 in premium. So when you put all the measures together it probably adds up closer to $30,000,” she said, explaining the total increase in salaries during the two years these measures will be applied strengthens the Outaouais’ ability to compete with jobs in Ontario.
She said a provincial committee has been put in place to examine how to retain more healthcare workers in the province and the region, beyond this two-year period.
“We want to look at what our needs and human resources will be in the next couple years and what we’ll be graduating in the next couple of years, and should we be looking to graduate more of certain job titles?”
She said the Pontiac has some advantages compared to other areas when it comes to attracting applicants.
“There’s a lower cost of living in this area as opposed to the city,” she said, adding that they offer on-the-job placement for new grads, which allows them to get a wide breadth of experience.
But she also said there are challenges to hiring healthcare workers in the region.
“Sixty-five per cent of my population is anglophone, and to hire bilingual staff makes my pool a lot smaller in Quebec,” she said, adding that the pool of graduates is already far smaller than it used to be.
“One of our major issues is not just Pontiac, but it’s province-wide, as baby boomers are retiring quicker than what we’re graduating.”