Recruiters are hoping a change of scenery and hours will lure health care staff to climb aboard a mobile health clinic.

MHCs, as they’re known, have shown success elsewhere in the U.S. and Canada, and are coming to this province in the fall.

Described as a doctor’s office on wheels, the large vans will be fully customized with IT access and space for privacy.

They also come with a staff of four or five including a doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner and administrative clerk.

Melissa Coish, a director of primary health care and community services, says those staff will come from the existing pool, with expressions of interest being posted soon.

She’s confident staff will step up to seize the chance for some variety in their careers.

“That’s what we heard from other jurisdictions—that it’s an opportunity that if they work normally 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, they can pick up shifts in something that the public and the community are very excited about and so it gives them that little bit of variety in their practice. It’s not to pull from current capacity and it doesn’t take away from our recruitment efforts.”

The first two vehicles, valued at about $140,000 each, will be based in the central and Avalon regions of the island starting in the fall.

They’ll operate from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends.

Two more MHCs are expected to be added to the fleet next year.