Role and Facility Information

Come work as an Associate Physician, Neurosurgery with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

The Associate Physician (AP), Neurosurgery performs services within the scope of an Associate Physician’s clinical duties and responsibilities and serves as a physician extender to provide care to patients of the Cranial Neurosurgery service.

The AP works under the supervision of the attending neurosurgeon on a day-to-day basis and is accountable to the Head of the Division of Neurosurgery or documented delegate for the overall provision of quality of care and professional development.

The AP supports the provision of continuous care in a team-based environment working collaboratively with the most responsible physician (MRP), fellows, residents, nursing, and allied care providers to care for neurosurgical patients.

The AP has demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and build relationships with other health professionals and disciplines and holds excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work within a team. The AP also has demonstrated ability to document in accordance with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC) and organizational standards, policies, and guidelines.

As an Associate Physician with Vancouver Coastal Health, you will:

• Manage pre-operative, post-operative and non-operative neurosurgical patients in the inpatient, outpatient and emergency room setting with the supervision of the Attending surgeon, full-time, over a mix of day, night and weekend shifts.

• Coordinate day-to-day care of the neurosurgical patients in the hospital including general patient care duties, response to nursing and other care team members concerns relating to patients including writing medical orders.

• Develop treatment plans in response to changing patient conditions, in consultation with Attending neurosurgical staff.

• Follow through on investigations in consultation with the attending staff.

• Perform and document admission history and physical examinations, progress notes, discharge summaries, and medication reconciliation as per CPSBC and organizational standards, policies, and guidelines.

• If competency to do so has been established and signed off by Head of Neurosurgery or their designate, the Associate Physician will conduct assessments of patients in the emergency room and surgical consultations on new and follow up patients with a broad range of neurosurgical conditions including trauma, neuro-oncology, skull base tumours, cerebrovascular disease, hydrocephalus, functional neurosurgical conditions, and epilepsy.

• Assist in neurosurgical procedures including assisting under the operating microscope; may perform appropriate portions of the procedure within the scope of the Associate Physicians demonstrated competence, under direct supervision of the attending neurosurgeon or designate. These procedures may include but are not limited to surgical positioning, opening, closing, burrholes, performing craniotomy, insertion of external ventricular drain at Vancouver General Hospital.

• Perform basic bedside procedures when indicated. These procedures include and are not limited to insertion of nasogastric tubes, insertion of lumbar CSF drains and removal of drains, etc. In all the above, the Associate Physician will not proceed until full orientation and competence has been established with sign-off by the Head of Neurosurgery or their delegate.

• Communicate regularly with the attending neurosurgeon and chief neurosurgical resident.

• Communicate with patients, family members, other consulting services, fellows and trainees concerning patient care plans, as appropriate.

• Daily handover rounds; the Associate Physician participates in patient rounds under the supervision of the attending along with fellows, residents and other care team members.

• Attend clinical rounds, morbidity and mortality rounds and other educational/research sessions as appropriate.

• Participate in professional development activities (a minimum of 50 hours per year, 25 hours of which must be accredited training recognized by the Royal College of Physician and Surgeons’ Maintenance of Certification Program for healthcare professionals).

• Participate in quality improvement projects relating to patients or program.

• Comply with AP programs CPD reporting requirements.

Qualifications

Education, Licensing, & Experience:

• Medical degree from a school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. Minimum of two (2) years of accredited postgraduate training as a medical or surgical specialist, verified by the CPSBC. Successful completion of Part 1 of the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE) or Steps 1 through 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLEs). Must meet the CPSBC’s English language proficiency requirements.

• Must be eligible for registration with the CPSBC in the Associate Physician class. The AP must have Canadian Citizenship, be a permanent resident, or be legally able to live and work in British Columbia.

• Qualified candidates will hold or achieve Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification prior to commencing orientation, and will maintain such certification throughout their employment.

Knowledge & Abilities:

• Possess the knowledge and skill required to diagnose and manage common issues arising in perioperative neurosurgery patients (e.g., chest pain, dyspnea, hypertension, electrolyte abnormalities, delirium, developing infections and sepsis, headaches, bleeding, acute neurological deterioration, wound complications).

• Ability to perform within the scope of Associate Physician duties and responsibilities as well as be able to interact, and adapt effectively with other professionals in complex, dynamic situations.

• Confidence and experience in recognizing and initiating response to emergency situations such as post operative neurological deterioration, hemorrhage and infection. Ability to recognize medical instability and address initial priorities of resuscitation and liaise with appropriate services in the hospital such as intensive care unit or internal medicine. Able to judge situations where reporting to and discussion with senior and most responsible physicians is appropriate.

• Excellent verbal English communication, including with patients, families, and other health care professionals. Ability to communicate effectively and collaborate with families about health findings, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and follow up.

• Excellent written English communication including completion of clinical documentation (e.g. consultation, progress notes, operative reports)

• Computer skills including the ability to perform documentation and order entry in electronic medical record and review relevant diagnostic and health information.

• Ability and comfort in working in a team-based environment. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work within a team.

• Ability to carry out professional duties in the face of multiple, competing demands

• Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.

As per Ministry of Health policy, all health care workers working in publicly-funded health care facilities are required to report their past receipt of certain vaccines or history of certain infections. Collecting these records will allow for offering of any missing vaccines, and for appropriate actions to be taken in the event of any future exposure to a communicable disease or during outbreaks. For all new hires and appointments to Vancouver Coastal Health, you will be asked to provide this information as part of the onboarding process.

WHY JOIN VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH?

VCH is a world class innovator in medical care, research and teaching, delivering service to more than one million BC residents. At VCH, we embrace thinking boldly, taking smart risks, and "going first" when we believe it will lead to the best possible outcomes for patients and their families. We invite you to join us in creating healthy lives in healthy communities by showcasing our passion for care, connection to the communities we serve and our culture of teamwork that makes VCH a great place to work.

• Grow your career with employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities

• Wellness supports, including counselling, critical incident and innovative wellness services are available to employees and their immediate families

• Award-winning recognition programs to honour staff, medical staff and volunteers

• Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for VCH staff

At Vancouver Coastal Health, our vision of healthy lives in healthy communities inspires us and our values and pillars guide us. We support equitable practices, diverse teams and inclusive environments, which are vital to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and feel supported. We encourage applications from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous Peoples and members of racialized groups, people with disabilities and people of all gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation.

We are committed to building a representative workforce and encourage applications reflecting diversity of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization or ancestry, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in 2023.

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