THUNDER BAY — One of the city's largest clinics has doubled its complement of family doctors, and is reaching out to city residents who have waited years to find one.
The Port Arthur Health Centre on Court Street North recently brought on six new family physicians, each of whom will have caseloads of between 1,200 and 2,000 patients.
A seventh family physician also joined the clinic earlier this year, bringing the total number of general practitioners to 13.
There were 15 family doctors there as recently as 2022, but a spokesperson told Newswatch the newcomers are launching new practices rather than taking over from GPs who either retired or left to pursue other opportunities.
"The recruitment of additional physicians comes at a crucial time for Thunder Bay, where many residents face challenges security a family doctor. With this expansion, the health centre is now accepting applications from individuals and families seeking comprehensive, long-term medical care," a clinic news release stated.
"We recognize the significant need for access to primary care in our community," said CEO John Marrello. "By welcoming new family physicians, we are strengthening our ability to provide timely, patient-centred care and ensure more residents can establish an ongoing relationship with a dedicated doctor."
The Port Arthur Health Centre initially promoted its increased capacity on social media.
Brittney Costa, manager of human resources, said that brought a big response, but the application rate has slowed down since.
"It was nonstop. Every time I put a new Facebook post out there, it gets a little busier. But we didn't put applications online anymore, so it's harder for people to come down to the clinic sometimes."
People interested in joining the clinic's roster are asked to visit the clinic to obtain a waitlist application form at the business office during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Applications are being processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
"We've got nothing but good news about these doctors," Costa said. "Everyone has nothing but good things to say about them. It's been really busy at the clinic, and it's nice to see all the traffic back in here again...we're going to help a lot more patients who don't have a doctor, and that's the goal."
Dr. John Coccimiglio, a member of the clinic's board, said it aims to roster about 10,000 patients with the new members of its medical staff.
"It's really exciting news," he said Tuesday, noting the clinic has also recruited four new specialists. "We plan to recruit more and more physicians. We have lots of space."
Two of the six first-time GPs are graduates of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University, while the one that transferred from another clinic is also a NOSM grad.
