Palliative Care Physician South West Nova

About This Opportunity

South West Nova Scotia, is seeking full time palliative care physician for the community and hospital program. Three hospitals; Yarmouth Regional Hospital (YRH), Digby General Hospital (DGH), and Roseway Hospital (RH) serve this area. The Palliative Care Physician co-leads the palliative care service with the program manager to continue to grow and improve the service. The interdisciplinary team consists of Palliative Care Nurses and Social workers. In hospital consultations and community assessments occur with the assistance of Palliative Care Nurses. The program currently consists of seeing patients in consultation and in follow up, in NSH facilities, patients’ homes and long term care facilities. In addition to playing an important clinical role, the palliative care team collaborates and provides consultation to family physicians, nurse practioners and medical specialists using a shared-care model. There is opportunity to teach by offering LEAP Core training programs and facilitating other professional education sessions related to symptom management. Academic appointment may be provided with Dalhousie Medical School to provide palliative care education and mentorship to medical learners at various levels of education including the Dalhousie South West Nova Family Medicine Residency program, and the Dalhousie School of Nursing, both based out of YRH.

The South West Nova medical community is a close knit and very collegial group where everyone actually does know your name, providing ample support and a rewarding work experience. YRH houses a 24 hour level III Emergency Department and district trauma centre, 93 inpatient beds, 7 bed ICU, 3 operating suites, and provides a range of primary and secondary services through in-patient, outpatient and satellite programs, skilled nursing staff and Helipad for emergency airlift to Halifax. Inpatient Units includes Surgical, Medical, Obstetrics & Nursery, ICU, and Mental Health.

Nova Scotia also has a small but well connected Palliative Medicine Physician group that meets regularly to discuss provincial and local issues. They all know they can reach out to each other for advice/support as well.

CCFP certified (or equivalent) candidates must have a certificate of added competence (or equivalent) in Palliative Care. FRCPC certified candidates must have either a certificate of added competence (or equivalent) in Palliative Care or Royal College certification (or equivalent) in Palliative Medicine.

Preference will be given based on full time experience in palliative medicine. Candidates must be eligible for specialty licensure in Nova Scotia and must be able to independently commute to a variety of care settings served by our service.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• assist in development and delivery of inter-professional initiatives in Palliative Care across all faculties
• provided care in all care settings in the area including hospital, in-patient palliative care unit, home, LTC, and assisted living residences
• follow patients after initial consult with appropriate visits, phone support and collaboration with the patient’s other health care providers, in a manner that is most supportive of each family physician and patient
• work closely with the palliative care team
• act as a patient’s advocate
• prescribe and administer medications and treatments, CADD pumps usage
• mentor family medicine residents from Dalhousie University

Qualifications

• eligible for Licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia (CPSNS)
• eligible for certification with the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)
• Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA)
• accredited training in Palliative Medicine or Certificate of Added Competence in Palliative Care
• demonstrated ability and experience working in a shared care model and across a multitude of care settings
• demonstrated interest in the palliative approach to care and capacity building with other colleagues

Expected Hours

• full time 1.0 FTE
• 1 FTE receives 6 weeks of paid vacation/CPD per year

Community Details

Yarmouth is located at the southwestern most tip of Nova Scotia serving a population of approximately 60,000 in three counties. Affordable housing is available on stunning ocean and lake-frontage properties. Yarmouth is the recreational, entertainment and shopping hub of the southwest area. There is so much to enjoy about the Southwestern end of Nova Scotia, including a unique and storied Acadian French history and beaches that take your breath away! Yarmouth is also connected to the United States through an international ferry service that makes cross border adventures possible with ease.

Our enviable combination of urban amenities and rural natural beauty offers an excellent quality of life for the people that live here. Nova Scotia offers the medical professional opportunities found in larger cities while maintaining a work-life balance in livable, walkable, and affordable communities. See for yourself with a video tour of Yarmouth Regional Hospital. For more details on living and practicing in Yarmouth, please watch Edge of Everywhere video, and visit Town of Yarmouth and Yarmouth and Acadian Shores.