THUNDER BAY - Healthcare workers, both retired and new, are being called upon to join the fight in stopping the spread of COVID-19 in Ontario.
The province announced on Tuesday that it is launching an online portal to match healthcare workers with employers in an effort to recruit more frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19.
“We have heard from so many health care professionals out there, they are asking: how can I help?” Premier Doug Ford said during his daily media briefing from Queen’s Park. “They don’t want to sit on the sidelines and watch as this virus spreads. They want to get out there and make a difference. And we need them.”
The Healthcare Workforce Matching Portal will provide those in the healthcare field, such as retired or non-active professionals, students, internationally educated healthcare professionals, and volunteers with healthcare experience to be matched with employers in need of assistance.
Individuals will fill a variety of needed roles in public health including case and contact management.
“If you have medical training, if you want to save lives, we need you,” Ford said. “Join the fight today. We need every person in Ontario in this fight.”
Employers can register with the portal listing needed positions and healthcare professionals can register and list availability. Those registered will receive an email when matched with an employer in need of support.
“Healthcare providers in need of support should add in job positing so we can connect volunteers with the right positions and get these critical roles filed,” said Minister of Health Christine Elliott. “Doing so will fill important gaps in Communities across Ontario.”
For those with medical training received outside of the country, Ford said their appropriate skill level will be matched with the work they will be doing determined by medical professionals. .
In terms of if those credentials will be recognized following the pandemic, Ford said it is something the province will look into at a later date.
