Health P.E.I. interim CEO Laurae Kloschinsky says Health P.E.I. has recruited 23 doctors and 19 nurse practitioners since the start of 2026. Photo by Stu Neatby /The GuardianArticle contentP.E.I.’s patient registry has been creeping down for a little more than a year and a half.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentWhile this appears to be a sign of progress for those without a family doctor or nurse practitioner, the numbers show more Prince Edward Island residents have lost a primary caregiver than have found a new one.Article contentArticle contentSince the start of 2025, there has been a net reduction of 5,100 from P.E.I.’s patient registry. As of the end of September, the patient registry had 31,707 P.E.I. residents on it, the lowest it has been since June 2023.Article contentBut the numbers have not been static.Article contentAffiliated to primary careArticle contentFigures provided by Health P.E.I. show 15,669 P.E.I. residents were affiliated to a primary care provider between Jan. 2025 and Sept. 2026.Article contentDuring that time, however, 20,040 people were added to the patient registry — 4,371 more than those who found a new primary caregiver.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentAs well, a total of 9,523 patients listed on the registry were “inactivated,” meaning they either moved, passed away, were deemed ineligible or they were found to be duplicate records.Article contentThat works out to an overall reduction in the registry of 5,100 patients.Article contentWhile this is still a sign of progress, it is slower than targets articulated in recent years by both politicians and health-care leaders.Article contentDuring the 2023 provincial election former premier Dennis King pledged to affiliate all patients on the registry within two years. This target was not met.Article contentBy late 2024, former Health P.E.I. CEO Melanie Fraser set down another target to reduce the patient registry to less than 5,000 by early 2027.Article contentHealth P.E.I. been silent on this public target in recent months, and it appears unlikely it will be reached.Article contentPatient medical homesArticle contentLeadership of Health P.E.I. spoke before an all-party standing committee on health and social development on Oct. 7.Article contentThe topics highlighted were patient medical homes, or team-based primary health offices, recruitment efforts and the patient registry.Article contentArticle contentKim Lawn, executive director or primary health care, noted 1,000 patients have been affiliated to UPEI’s patient medical home in recent weeks.Article contentArticle content“We are learning how to do this more quickly. We are learning how to do this more efficiently in a supported manner,” Lawn said.Article contentThe officials noted the UPEI medical home has begun “exploring” the affiliation of patients to its entire team, rather than rostering patients specifically to a family doctor or nurse practitioner.Article contentThis would differ from the other 18 patient medical homes across the province.Article content Kim Lawn, executive director of primary health care with Health P.E.I., said 1,000 patients have been affiliated to the UPEI patient medical home in recent weeks. Photo by Stu Neatby /The GuardianArticle contentRecruitment effortsArticle contentLaurae Kloschinsky, who has been interim CEO of Health P.E.I. since Fraser’s departure last spring, added Health P.E.I. has changed its model for recruitment of doctors, nurses and allied health staff.Article contentWhile recruitment for the health system used to be housed in the Department of Health and Wellness, it is now effectively under Health P.E.I.’s control, although the Public Service Commission is still tasked with many of the hiring responsibilities.
P.E.I.s patient registry is shrinking, but more patients have lost a primary caregiver than have found one
