Role and Facility Information

Merritt BC: Where professional diversity meets a recreational lifestyle

With humility, we acknowledge that the practice of family medicine will take place on the unceded, traditional, and ancestral territories of the Syilx and Nlaka’pamux peoples, within the biodiverse Nicola Valley. Merritt is centrally located on the Coquihalla Highway between the Fraser Valley, Kamloops, and Kelowna. At an elevation of 595 meters, this rural city enjoys snowy winters and hot, sunny summers. There are endless wilderness trails, campsites, lakes, rivers, and forests for four season outdoor recreation plus an indoor Aquatic Centre. The town enjoys a steady influx of people relocating from urban areas attracted to the quality of life, affordable housing, accessibility to services, and abundance of leisure opportunities.

Seeking a physician to join a 4-physician clinic that is fully computerized and paperless with a MedAccess EMR and compensation model at the discretion of the practicing physician. The office has 6 examination rooms plus a procedure room for minor procedures. Office hours are M-F 0830-1730, with flexible work hours and virtual care options. The clinic is in the downtown core, less than 2 km from the Nicola Valley Hospital. Local physicians with hospital privileges rotate through inpatient call, currently 1/6. Emergency department (ED) shifts are 24 hours and there is an expectation of two shifts per month. ED contract negotiations will hopefully allow 12-hour shifts in the near future. Physicians participate in the FPSC Long-Term Care Initiative at Coquihalla Gillis House, a local residential long-term care facility managed by Interior Health with 74 beds, which is within walking distance from the clinic.

Nicola Valley Hospital is a community hospital with a modern 24-hour ED that serves over 12,000 local residents plus seasonal workers and highway travellers. The facility has 2 trauma bays, 6 exam beds, plus 2 assessment/ treatment chairs, along with 8 ward/ in-patient care beds. There is an Indigenous Patient Navigator on site, home care, public health, and inpatient and outpatient services for laboratory, ECG service, radiology, physiotherapy, spirometry, mental health and opioid antagonist therapy. MAiD is also available in Merritt. Kamloops is the nearest tertiary referral site, approximately 45 minutes away. In critical situations, the High Acuity Response Team (HART) or a helicopter can transfer patients to a higher level of care.

Merritt is in the process of developing a primary care network service plan to add family physicians, nurse practitioners, and allied health professionals to the community over the coming years. Rural generalists in Merritt have the opportunity to practice family medicine while advancing skills in the emergency department and leading local health programs. Trade an hour per day in urban city traffic for 2 extra weeks per year to play outside in a rural community.

Professional development and rural supports may include:

• NAVIG8 Emerging Physician Leaders Program for physicians interested in leadership roles

• Rural Physician Mentoring Program for physicians new to rural practice

• Rural Education Action Plan (REAP) CME program for skills upgrading and advanced training

• Real Time Virtual Support pathways (RTVS) for immediate specialist consultations

• Rural and Remote Division of Family Practice membership and local Chapter support

For those interested, Leadership Development Opportunities are available with Interior Health’s NAVIG8 Program. The NAVIG8 Emerging Physician Leaders Program is a comprehensive leadership development program designed specifically for physicians to address the practical leadership knowledge, behaviours and skills that high potential, emerging medical leaders require to step into leadership roles early in their careers.

Apply today to live work and play where others only vacation! It's better here!

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Terms

Benefits and Incentives

May be eligible for additional remuneration in accordance with the Rural Subsidiary Agreement (RSA) including:

Retention Premium

12.5%

Retention Flat Fee

$19,364

Relocation Funding Available

$9,000 - $15,000 based on move location

Recruitment Incentive

$15,000

Other Benefits/Incentives

Rural CME: max of $ 4,400.00 /year after 4 years in practice Rural incentives are subject to change and current rates are confirmed at time of offer. Candidates with a BC or Canada student loan may be eligible for loan forgiveness programs.

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