Family Physician Recruitment

We're working hard to ensure Kingston residents have access to primary care. 

In 2022, the City launched a physician recruitment program, which includes a $100,000 incentive to eligible family doctors as well as relocation and career support for incoming physicians and their families. 

Since then, we have:  

• Welcomed 17 new doctors, who provide care to 11,200 patients of retiring doctors and 4,100 new patients (as of June 2024).
• Invested a total of $3 million into bringing doctors to Kingston, including $1 million in January 2024.
• Formally called on the Ontario Ministry of Health to address the physician shortage.
• Launched the Primary Care Clinic Grant, an entirely municipally-funded program which will provide funding of up to $100,000 to support 6 existing clinics as they expand their rosters and broaden their services.
• Collaborated with the Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Ontario Health Team on the establishment of Health Homes, a new model of primary care being piloted in our region that will roster unattached patients with a multidisciplinary primary care clinic close to home. 

Learn more about Kingston's Family Physician Recruitment Campaign. 

Do you need a primary care provider? 

Residents without a family doctor are encouraged to register with Health Care Connect. Health Care Connect is a provincially administered government agency that helps track primary care provider capacity and helps connect people to a primary care provider. 

By voluntarily signing up online or by phone, residents will be added to their local waitlist for a primary care provider. A Care Connector will be assigned to help find a primary care provider based on each person’s situation. 

More information about Health Care Connect and the rostering process can be found on the Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Ontario Health Team’s website. 

Community collaboration 

Our physician recruitment efforts are possible because of the collaboration and dedication of many community partners, including: 

• A dedicated group of local physicians and healthcare professionals
• Queen’s University School of Medicine
• Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Ontario Health Team
• Kingston Community Health Centres
• Local chapter of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA)
• KEYS Employment and Newcomer Services (Dual Career Support Program) 

With their help, we have:  

• Participated in career fairs, one-on-one meetings and presentations showcasing Kingston as a welcoming and supportive community for new and experienced family physicians.
• Established connections between prospective doctors and physicians currently practicing in the city.
• Offered relocation advice and support to incoming care providers and their families.