By Merry-Ann Keane

Chief Administrative Officer, System Director Provider Recruitment

Michael Penrose

PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center, Workforce Planning

PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center operates on an island paradise. Those who live and/or work here know this well. PeaceHealth is making every effort to let doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants know this, too. Our work in recruiting health care providers to PeaceHealth Peace Island is to showcase our new and beautiful medical facility and equipment, show off our compassionate caregivers, and tout the benefits of island living and a tight-knit community. Fortunately, we have a full complement of health care providers to meet the current needs of our patients. Some of our visiting specialists, like orthopedic surgeon Jeff Krusniak, MD, are more than willing — eager in fact — to increase their days on the island to meet growing demand for services. And he has done just that, nearly doubling the number of days he sees patients both in clinic and in surgery. Word is out that you can have orthopedic surgery without leaving the island, so demand for it has increased.

Other providers choose to work and live on the island or on nearby islands, as is the case with our several of our Emergency Department physicians and our primary care providers.

Yet, we know there will be turnover in staff. People move, take new positions, retire. And over time our services will expand and new ones will be added – again to meet the health care needs of island residents. There will always be a need for attracting providers to PeaceHealth Peace Island.

For these reasons, PeaceHealth takes an aggressive approach in our recruitment efforts. Attending an increasing number of job fairs and identifying providers who may have Pacific Northwest connections are just two ways we go about doing this. We also network with current providers to link to their professional network for identifying colleagues who may be attracted to the island life and practice in a rural setting.

Those who practice at PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center consider themselves fortunate. Our goal is twofold: to attract providers who also will consider themselves fortunate to practice in a new, modern facility in a community they quickly learn to love, and to attract providers who will share their sense of compassion and mission whether patients are their year ’round neighbors or seasonal visitors here to enjoy for a short time the place we call home.