1,600 P.E.I. Patients Affected as Charlottetown Doctor Retires

Retirement Announcement

A Charlottetown family physician is preparing to retire on Dec. 19, leaving 1,600 Islanders without a primary care provider. Health P.E.I. confirmed that Dr. Stephen Zimmer, who currently practises at Sherwood Family Medical Centre, has notified patients of his departure after years of service in the province’s health system.

Impact on Local Patients

With no replacement physician currently assigned, Health P.E.I. says affected patients are being given instructions on how to register for the province’s patient registry, the system used to connect residents with available family doctors. The agency acknowledged the disruption and thanked Dr. Zimmer for his dedication, wishing him well in retirement.

Context Behind the Departure

Provincial officials previously noted that Dr. Zimmer, who is in his early 70s, moved to Canada from the United States in 2019. His retirement adds pressure to P.E.I.’s already strained primary care network, which has been contending with physician shortages and rapidly growing patient demand.

Provincial Health System Response

Health P.E.I. says it has hired 36 physicians so far this year, including six family doctors, in an effort to stabilize the system. The agency reports that 7,427 Islanders have been connected with a primary care provider between January and October — progress that officials say reflects ongoing recruitment efforts.

Broader Primary Care Challenges

Despite these gains, the province continues to face a significant backlog. According to the government’s website, over 35,000 Islanders remain on the patient registry waiting to be matched with a doctor or nurse practitioner. As Dr. Zimmer’s departure approaches, health officials say they will continue working to expand access and fill vacancies across the province’s primary care network.

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