The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) is one of the few hospitals to say it's nearly fully staffed.
CKHA leadership met with media members on Monday, where they explained that its vacancy rate is currently 2.4 percent, or 32 positions. This is well below the provincial average of 3.9 per cent, though the provincial data is from March 1, 2026, with new information scheduled to be shared with hospitals on October 1, 2026.
CKHA was able to lower its vacancy rate after officially finishing its plan to eliminate 49 positions.
No one was let go as a result of the cuts, as 19 of the positions were already vacant, and nearly every impacted employee was able to fill a different job. A small number of employees did accept early retirement.
"We worked very, very hard to make sure that we found a place for everybody who was affected by the changes," said Adam Topp, president and CEO of the CKHA.
As for recruitment, CKHA has had a strong few weeks as it was able to bring in an emergency department doctor, a pediatrician, and a psychiatrist.
Topp credited the team's recruitment team, strong partnership with St. Clair College, and status as one of the country's best employers for the strong showing in hiring new health care professionals.
St. Clair's nursing program sends many students to CKHA to learn in an actual hospital setting, with many deciding to stay on once their education is finished. This has led CKHA to have a 0.6 registered nurse vacancy rate, which represents just two positions.
Topp explained that they take great pride in ensuring all staff are heard, supported, and able to provide the best care they can.
"We are a service organization, and if our staff don't feel good about the place that they work, then they're not going to provide as good of care," he added.
Due to CKHA having a workforce of over 1,300 positions, Topp doesn't believe they'll ever be fully staffed due to retirements, workers leaving, and other circumstances.
