December 05, 2024 – 59 views
The shift was announced at the start of the year by President Sophie Borderie, thus creating new collective momentum to respond to the challenge of medical demographics. Since then, Annie Messina, vice-president in charge of this delegation, has met all the EPCIs and more than 50 partners throughout the territory to unite and prepare the launch of a new approach.
With “Welcome Doctor!” », the Departmental Council is launching a platform dedicated to supporting the installation and retention in practice of general practitioners, as well as the reception of medical trainee students. Carried out in partnership with the Regional Health Agency (ARS) and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Council, this initiative relies on the Lot-et-Garonne network of stakeholders.
Validated by the Departmental Assembly in February 2024, this project marks a new stage in the department's strategy to break through the “glass ceiling” of competition between territories and provide solutions locally.
A simple answer to a complex challenge
Since 2009, the Departmental Council has been actively engaged in the fight against medical desertification. The creation of the Departmental Commission for Medical Demography (CODDEM) made it possible to lay the foundations for an ambitious and innovative policy. Several actions have been initiated:
1 Support for the creation of multidisciplinary health centers (MSP)
2 Development of health centers (CDS)
3 Promotion of e-health equipment as part of a coordinated exercise
4 Training of advanced practice nurses
The territory now has 28 MSPs and 8 CDS, demonstrating a solid territorial network.
However, despite these efforts, the situation remains worrying in Lot-et-Garonne, as everywhere in France, due to a national framework which mechanically creates competition between territories.
So the Department continues to innovate and adapts its systems to the new issues and expectations of the medical professions.
The Departmental Council is proposing a new approach to remove obstacles to installation with the “Welcome Doctor!” platform. “.
“Welcome Doctor! » is a simple, pragmatic and humane solution. Designed as a one-stop shop, this platform centralizes existing resources and solutions for:
• Facilitate the installation of general practitioners thanks to tailor-made support
• Improve the reception of medical students, by developing internship locations, and by promoting the living environment and opportunities of Lot-et-Garonne
• Raise awareness among Lot-et-Garonne high school students about medical studies to encourage local vocations
The system also includes a general medicine observatory, allowing precise monitoring of local medical demographics.
A one-stop shop for simplified procedures
The platform is a real link between doctors and the network of key players in the region. The Department acts as a facilitator by offering:
• Professional support: administrative procedures, orientation towards financial aid schemes, and identification of suitable structures (Homes or Health Centers).
• Personal support: finding accommodation, spouse's employment, children's schooling, and discovery of Lot-et-Garonne.
Within the Departmental Council, a team dedicated to this support has already started to respond to the first requests. Around thirty requests were received and processed in the second half of 2024. A website will complete the system in 2025.
Concrete solutions are proposed: accommodation for trainees, creation of new places for coordinated exercise, organization of events to discover the territory, etc.
The message is clear: in Lot-et-Garonne health professionals are expected, supported and accompanied in each stage of their project.
A collective approach
To make this platform a success, Annie Messina and the Departmental Council teams were able to bring together all health stakeholders and mobilize the local reception ecosystem. This synergy is based on close work with the ARS, the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Council, the CPAM, the MSA, the 11 intermunicipalities, health establishments, universities, practitioners already in office, and stakeholders in the employment, housing and tourism.
“By bringing together this ecosystem, we are creating a solid and coordinated network, capable of removing the obstacles to the installation of general practitioners in our territory,” explains Annie Messina.
A project in the image of Lot-et-Garonne
In Lot-et-Garonne, welcoming is a sincere commitment. With “Welcome Doctor!” », the Department embodies a vision of territorial attractiveness based on proximity and service.
“Doctors, here, we simply say “Welcome”, with all the heart, care, and smile that make our territory strong. Also take care of your new life in Lot-et-Garonne. »
A single point of contact to support doctors.
