Come work as an Associate Physician, Spine Surgery at Vancouver General Hospital with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

The Associate Physician (AP), Spine Surgery 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 Spine service. 

The AP works under the supervision of the attending Spine surgeon on a day-to-day basis and is accountable to the Division Head of Spine Surgery 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 Spine 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. 

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is one of five regional health authorities that work under the Ministry of Health together, with the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) and the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), to provide high quality, appropriate and timely health services to British Columbians.

VCH is a world-class innovator in medical care, research and teaching, delivering care to more than one million B.C. residents living in Vancouver, the North Shore, Richmond, the Sea-to-Sky corridor, Sunshine Coast and the Central Coast. We are dedicated to providing exceptional care across the full continuum in areas including public health, primary care, acute services, community-based long-term care and home health, mental health, substance use, and research.

Apply today to join our team!

As Associate Physician, Spine Surgery with Vancouver Coastal Health, you will:

• Management of pre-operative, post-operative and non-operative Spine 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.
• Coordinates day-to-day care of the Spine patients in the hospital including general patient care duties, response to nursing and other care team members concerns relating to patients, writing medical orders, pain management and control.
• Develops treatment plans in response to changing patient conditions, in consultation with attending surgeon.
• Follows through on investigations in consultation with the attending surgeon.
• Performs and documents 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 the Division Head of Spine Surgery or their designate, the AP will conduct assessments of patients in the emergency room and surgical consultations on new and follow up patients with a broad range of spinal conditions including trauma, cancer, deformity, degenerative spine disease.
• Assists in spine surgical procedures; may perform appropriate portions of the procedure within the scope of the AP’s demonstrated competence, under direct supervision of the attending spine surgeon or designate. These procedures may include but are not limited to positioning, opening, closing, spinal decompression, spinal instrumentation at Vancouver General Hospital.
• Performs basic bedside procedures when indicated. These procedures include and are not limited opening the surgical wound and packing, and removal of drains, etc. In all the above, the AP will not proceed until full orientation and competence has been established with sign-off by the Division Head of Spine Surgery or their delegate.
• Communicates regularly with the attending Spine surgeon.
• Communicates with patients, family members, other consulting services, fellows and trainees concerning patient care plans, as appropriate.
• Daily handover rounds; the AP participates in patient rounds under the supervision of the attending along with fellows, residents and other care team members.
• Attends clinical rounds, morbidity and mortality rounds and other educational/research sessions as appropriate.
• Participates 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).
• Participates in quality improvement projects relating to patients or program.
• Complies with AP programs CPD reporting requirements.

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.
• Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) – Desired
• Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) – Desired

Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated knowledge and skills to diagnose and manage common issues arising in perioperative spine surgery patients, e.g., chest pain, dyspnea, hypertension, electrolyte abnormalities, pain control, delirium, developing sepsis, bleeding, acute neurological deterioration, wound complications etc.
• Ability to perform within the scope of AP 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 discussion and reporting to senior and most responsible physicians is appropriate.
• Excellent 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.
• Computer and written communication skills including order entry, clinical documentation, and ability to review relevant diagnostic information and health history.
• 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.

During a 12-week probationary period, the AP will undergo assessment and evaluation of their competence to perform the duties in the intended specialty areas under a supervising physician. The evaluation will include assessment of:

• Basic clinical skills
• Communication skills
• The ability and willingness to function as a member of a clinical team
• Specialized knowledge and skills applicable to the intended clinical placement
• Clinical decision-making and the appropriate use of clinical and diagnostic resources
• Clinical documentation
• Procedures required to function effectively within the team environment

Ongoing employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the probationary period, and subject to a six month and annual reviews.

To apply now please visit Health Match BC (HMBC) via the link below:

 APPLY NOW

Please note that a resume and cover letter is required to apply for this 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.

• Comprehensive health benefits package, including MSP, extended health and dental and municipal pension plan
• 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

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.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in 2024.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for this posting.


***Employees of VCH must apply online via the Internal Career Portal on CareerHub, you are currently viewing the External Career Portal. Refer to the https://my.vch.ca/working-here/job-postings site for instructions on how to view internal job postings and how to apply as an employee. Current VCH employees who apply to this posting using this external site will be considered as an external candidate. Seniority will not apply.***

Thank you for your interest in Vancouver Coastal Health.