Antigonish’s new health navigator says she’s taking work already done to the next level.
Sarah O’Toole, Community Navigator at Community Navigator and Physician Retention Services Association in Antigonish, says her position was created by an agreement between Antigonish town, Antigonish Co., and St. Martha’s Regional Hospital Foundation.
She says the association, and her position, amalgamates the work of three previous volunteer committees: one each for doctor recruitment, retention, and public relations.
O’Toole tells The Hawk she’s building a three-year plan, and that’s slow and steady process.
“I think one of the biggest challenges is being patient about the strategy, and building it, and believing in it, and knowing that the work takes some time,” she says. “We have a lot of interest in the association and in the role, and a lot of stakeholders that are keen to see things happen quickly, so I think it’ll just be about managing that.”
She says a lot of good work has already been done on a volunteer basis, and she’s looking to expand on that.
O’Toole says she started in Jan 18., so much of what she’s doing now is building relationships and setting the groundwork for the next three years.
