Associate Physician, Division of Pediatric Neurology – BC Children’s and Women’s Hospital & Health Centre

Associate Physician, Division of Pediatric Neurology

Role Summary

The Associate Physician practices under the direction and supervision of an attending physician in Pediatric Neurology and works in a structured, team-based, specialty care setting to sustain capacity and service delivery. The AP functions as a member of the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Neurology. Consideration will be given for the successful applicant to apply to the UBC department of Pediatrics as a clinical instructor.

Key Accountabilities

Inpatient/Consultation Service Duties:

The primary clinical focus of the AP will be participation in the Pediatric Neurology inpatient/consultation service. The AP’s inpatient responsibilities will include the following:

• Participate on rounds on admitted patients under the supervision of the Pediatric Neurology attending physicians along with residents, fellows, and other health care providers (nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, psychologists)
• Perform new Neurological consultations and/or admissions on patients admitted under the Clinical Teaching Unit (CTU), other pediatric medical and surgical subspecialities, Psychiatry, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and the Emergency Department (ED)
• Perform and document admission history and physical examinations, progress notes, discharge summaries, medication reconciliations as per BC College and organizational standards, policies, and guidelines
• Communicate with families, consultant physicians, referring and family physicians concerning patient management plans
• Manage the day-to-day care of patients, including writing medical orders, on charts and consultations of other services and responding to emergencies in hospital, in consultation with attending staff
• Perform procedures within the scope of his/her demonstrated competence, including lumbar puncture. The AP will not proceed with these procedures until full training and competence has been established with signoff by the Division Head or his/her designate
• Arrange consultations with other departments for patient care and investigation
• Follow through on investigations and arrange follow-up outpatient visits
• Communicate and collaborate with families about health findings, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and follow up
• Attend clinical rounds, morbidity and mortality rounds and other educational/research sessions
• Provide teaching and supervision for medical students, residents and fellows
• The AP may provide after-hours inpatient/consultation service up to 4 times per month, including overnight and weekend shifts, as determined by need. The AP’s weekday clinical obligations will be reduced accordingly, including post-call shift protections similar to that of postgraduate trainees
• Depending on clinical need and availability of postgraduate trainees, the AP may participate in new neurological consultations and rounds for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), under the supervision of the Pediatric Neurology Neonatal Neurology attending
• Participate in appropriate 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, as time and availability allow
• Document in accordance with CPSBC and organizational standards, policies and guidelines
• Comply with Associate Physician programs CPD reporting requirements

Outpatient Duties:

The AP will participate in outpatient Neurology clinics, with a focus on urgent consultations, for the equivalent of at least 1 half-day and up to 3 half-days per week, depending on need. During this time, the AP will not be expected to participate in the inpatient/consultation service. The outpatient duties will include the following:

• Assess new urgent outpatient neurology patients, under the supervision of the Pediatric Neurology attending
• Outpatient time may also include General Neurology clinics and subspecialty Neurology clinics, including assessment of both new and follow-up patients, depending on need and availability, as agreed by the AP and the Division Head

Qualifications

Medical degree from a school listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools. Minimum of two (2) years of accredited postgraduate training in Pediatric Neurology, verified by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC). Successful completion of the Royal College Subspecialist Examination Affiliate Program (SEAP) in Pediatric Neurology. 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. Have Canadian Citizenship, be a permanent resident or be legally able to live and work in British Columbia.

The applicant must be able to perform within the scope of Associate Physician duties and responsibilities. The applicant should have excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to work within a team. This includes:

• able to interact effectively and collaboratively
• able to adapt effectively with other professionals in complex, dynamic situations
• able to communicate and collaborate with families about health findings, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and follow up
• demonstrated to be an effective communicator and able to build relationships with other health professionals and disciplines using a variety of communication strategies.

They will be required to document in accordance with CPSBC and organizational standards, policies, and guidelines.