Healthcare Relocations: Navigating Career Relocations

What is a career relocation? At New Roots, we work with many organizations and professionals undergoing career relocations.

In a nutshell, it’s when someone relocates themselves and potentially their family, solely or primarily for career reasons. These types of relocations may be initiated by an employer or by the person themselves, aiming to pursue a new opportunity in a different location.

In the healthcare industry, career relocations are common for many reasons. In this article, we’ll explore those reasons, along with tips for both healthcare employees and employers who find themselves facing a relocation.

Why Are Healthcare Worker Relocations So Common?

If you’re a healthcare professional, you’re likely familiar with the fact that many relocations take place within your industry. There are a few reasons for this:

• A general shortage of healthcare professionals across North America.
• An especially severe shortage in certain areas, such as remote locations or smaller cities.
• Opportunities to train, increase income, or study a particular field may be limited to certain locations.

Overall, the healthcare industry and its workers are essential, which is what often places them in high demand.

Tips For Healthcare Professionals Planning A Relocation

If you’re a healthcare professional considering or planning to relocate, you may be wondering about how best to prepare. There are so many considerations beyond just the physical move, and a few key things you can do to make your relocation as smooth as possible.

#1. Do your research with varied sources

Researching your new city or location can help you mentally prepare and offer lots of information, but it’s important to vary your sources of information. 

For example, topics like cost of living, the local healthcare system, and real estate can be easily discovered on Google and from reputable online sources.
When it comes to cultural differences, neighbourhoods, local quirks, and other matters of personal preference, you may want to consider other sources like:

• Local Reddit communities and other online forums
  • For example: r/montreal is a subreddit dedicated to the city. You can read through posts made by real people, and even submit your own questions for more specific answers.

• Expat communities
  • Find other professionals and expats who truly understand the process of relocation. Not only will you find valuable preparation info, you may also get the chance to connect with other expats in the long-term! (Just search “Expats [City]” to quickly find groups like this, or search for your city on Internations)

#2. Understanding local laws, regulations, and procedural differences

If you’re relocating with an employer, or have a job lined up, it’s likely that your organization will help you understand any differences in local laws and regulations. However, if you’re in the planning phase, it’s a good idea to do your own research as soon as possible.

As a healthcare professional, you may need to:

• Change or transfer some of your licenses and certifications
• Get documents notarized and/or translated
• Complete additional qualifications

For example, most Canadian medical professionals moving to a different province will need to apply for a new provincial medical practice license. For international professionals, you’ll need to have your credentials verified by the Medical Council of Canada, among other steps.

It’s important to understand the costs, timelines, and legal requirements of your relocation to prepare properly.

#3. Consider non-career factors

It’s important to remember that your new location will be your home all the time, not just during working hours! This is an especially important consideration if you’re moving with your family. Considering lifestyle changes, costs of living, and building a personal network is also important. 

You may want to:

• Work with a relocation specialist who can help with cultural fit, activity planning, and community building.
• Join local groups and communities ahead of time, not just when you arrive.
• Don’t be afraid to seek support, and give yourself grace during the transition period. Things may take a while to settle down, and that’s okay!

Tips For Organizations Welcoming Relocated Professionals

If you’re an organization or recruiter aiming to attract and welcome new healthcare workers, relocation is a key consideration. A smooth transition can support low turnover, maximize output, and even attract new talent to your location. Here are a few challenges and tips to consider.

#1. Onboarding is everything

A solid onboarding process sets the tone for every relocation. If you can create great onboarding processes, you’ll set your team up for long-term success. Throwing newly relocated professionals into the deep end won’t help anyone!

Develop a comprehensive onboarding process that includes orientation sessions, introductions to key staff members, facility tours, and training on organizational policies and procedures. 

#2. Build community into your process

Humans are social beings, and community is important. This rings especially true for expats and career relocations, where individuals may be completely alone in a new environment. Building community into your relocation process can help support your new team members.

• Consider mentorship programs
• Pair relocated professionals with colleagues who can guide them
• Provide space for expats to connect with each other

#3. Accept and embrace feedback

Finally, the best way you can ensure that your relocation processes are really working is to hear it from the source! Provide clear opportunities for feedback, and follow up with your relocated professionals to ensure they have the support they need. Feedback loops will allow you to hear about challenges and fix them quickly.

Conclusion

Healthcare relocations to Canada are increasing every year, and both individuals and organizations want to create the best possible outcomes. If you need more support guiding your relocation or developing processes for your organization, you can reach out to us here at New Roots for bespoke support.