Hospitalist - Antigonish

Company Description

St. Martha's Regional Hospital (SMRH), in Antigonish, is seeking a hospitalist to join their team.  We currently have a full-line available on the hospitalist schedule for a 7-day rotation (weeks start on Monday).  There is opportunity for physicians to engage in research and/or have medical teaching positions with Dalhousie University, should that be of interest.  The current remuneration arrangement is a set daily rate as per the provincial hospitalist agreement with a stipend plus fee-for-service billings for on-call work.

At SMRH, 5.5 hospitalist lines currently cover inpatient care outside the ICU.  Each full hospitalist line consists of approximately 12-15 patients.  Patients are spread across several units in the hospital and composed of medical patients outside the ICU, stroke patients in our regional stroke unit, and geriatric rehabilitation patients.  Within the service there may exist flexibility with scheduling amongst the physician providers.

Daytime coverage is 8am to 5pm and on-call coverage is 5pm to 8am, split between physicians covering the service for the week.  If you are interested in a broader scope of practice that includes, but is not limited to hospitalist work, there are many possible opportunities in Antigonish and surrounding communities.  

SMRH is approximately two hours from the region's tertiary care pediatric facility, the IWK Health Centre, which provides neonatal support. St. Martha's Regional Hospital was founded in 1906 by the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha and is approximately a 90 bed facility with more than 65 physicians practicing in a variety of medical specialties and sub-specialties.  This facility serves a population of nearly 70,000 from Antigonish, Guysborough, and surrounding communities. 

Hospitalists are joined by colleagues in:

• family medicine
• obstetrics/gynecology
• internal medicine (general and sub-specialty who cover the 6 bed ICU)
• emergency medicine
• geriatrics
• general surgery/ENT
• psychiatry
• pediatrics
• plastic surgery
• ophthalmology
• otolaryngology
• anesthesia
• radiology (U/S, CT, MRI, ECHO)
• palliative care
• visiting oncology and neurology

Community based care is further supported by a men's  and women's health centre, chronic pain clinic, methadone clinic, and youth clinic at the local high school.

Physicians and all staff at St. Martha's Regional Hospital take great pride in providing high-quality care to patients and value collegiality in the work place. Also, St. Martha's Regional Hospital has the most active cross-specialty, accredited Continuing Medical Education (CME) program in the province. Additionally, they offer regular medical staff social events. SMRH has an extremely helpful, efficient and friendly staff who make working here a pleasure.

Job Description

Responsibilities

• duties include full scope of practice as a hospitalist providing care to patients within the Eastern Zone and participating in call
• physician will be responsible to the Zone Department Head of Family Practice for their professional responsibilities and quality of practice, and will operate within the Medical Staff Bylaws of the Nova Scotia Health Authority

Expected Hours

• full-time (locum opportuntities available as well)
• permanent and short-term appointments available

Qualifications

• eligible for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia (CPSNS)
• membership with the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA)

Additional Information

The Town of Antigonish is a family-friendly, creative, university community where the hospital is an easy walk or cycle away from the town centre. Housing is affordable. The commute to work can be so easy, with minimal traffic and no congestion. The County of Antigonish, surrounding the town, boasts spectacular natural beauty, and also has a wide range of affordable housing. An agricultural base results in a wonderful farmers' market and easy access to local foods, while fishers offer their catch at several wharves and community locations.

In winter you can easily ski or snow shoe on local trails or at the golf course, with groomed trails. Indoor community recreational sports, including hockey, curling, skating, volleyball, and racquet sports (yes, we have pickleball!) are also available. There are three ice surfaces and two artificial turf fields in town. In summer, swimming, kayaking, and sailing in the Northumberland Strait, the mildest ocean water north of Washington, DC, is irresistible! A university-based rowing club on a local lake offers community lessons. There are numerous local public beaches and swimming holes, spectacular hiking trails, an 18-hole golf course, a boating club, great fishing spots, tennis courts, cycling on little-trafficked back roads and a racetrack. There is mountain biking and disc golf on Keppoch Mountain and a newly organize Kan Jam league. You'll be surprised at how few people are in the midst of such immense natural beauty!

You'll also find a wide range of fitness and sports programs for all ages, often mentored by local university athletes and coaches. In addition to traditional gyms, a new crossfit gym has recently opened its doors. The local St. Francis Xavier University has superb recreational facilities, with a gym, rinks, a track, courts, and a 25 metre pool, all within the town. St. FX also hosts an impressive lineup of guest speakers, films, arts, music, and theatre events throughout the year, all open to the community. Antigonish boasts a vibrant arts and culture community where theatre, documentary films, concerts, readings, lecture, visual arts, and arts fairs, abounds. There is ample opportunity to participate, with community choirs and community theatre productions. This strong creative community has partnered with folks in health care and education to create the first community-based arts-health initiative in Canada. An award-winning library serves as a flourishing community gathering space. There is always lots going on in our well-engaged community - the challenge is deciding where to be!

French-language schools and Acadian, Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotia communities are near town. Antigonish's growing community of newcomers is bringing welcome diversity to a historically Scottish region, contributing to a burgeoning celebration of ethnic culture and food. Antigonish is home to the famous "Peace by Chocolate", owned by a family of Syrian entrepreneurs and peace ambassadors. Day and residential programs integrate individuals with diverse abilities into community activities through L'Arche Antigonish. Two new retirement residences have recently opened. A wide range of service organizations and activist coalitions will welcome you as a volunteer. Halifax, Cape Breton, New Brunswick, PEI, and numerous festivals are accessible for weekend or day trips. The Halifax Stanfield International Airport is a 1-hour, 45-minute drive away.

To learn more about St. Martha's Regional Hospital view the video below from the staff and physicians who work at St. Martha's: 

St. Martha's Regional Hospital

Physicians in Nova Scotia provide fulfilling patient care which embraces family life, professional development and community involvement. That's what makes practicing medicine in Nova Scotia unique. Physicians are increasingly attracted to practices that offer team-based care to their patients and allow them to consult with their peers. The size and scale of Nova Scotia allows for better connections across the health care system. Your practice of medicine and your life is richer here. Nova Scotia is more than medicine. 

Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) is committed to being a workforce that is free of discrimination, values diversity and is representative, at all job levels, of the people we serve. Our priority groups are Aboriginal People, African Nova Scotians, Persons with Disabilities and Recent Immigrants. Members of these groups are welcome to apply and self-identify if they wish to be considered under our Employment Equity policy.