Internal Medicine

About the Role

Ridge Meadows Hospital (RMH) is recruiting three physicians to join a group of nine full and part-time internists/subspecialists. The successful candidates will be subspecialists with General Internal Medicine (GIM) ability or GIM physicians with a subspecialty interest relevant to RMH and the community.

RMH serves Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, a combined population of over 110,000, offering a semi-rural lifestyle 45 minutes from downtown Vancouver. The hospital features 125 acute care beds, 60 subacute/rehab and inpatient psychiatry beds, an 8-bed ICU with 3 ventilator capacity, and telemetry. RMH handles approximately 45,000 ER visits annually and provides full-service community medicine, including MRI scanning and strong support from larger urban hospitals.

Internists/subspecialists act as the "most responsible physician" for high-acuity patients and provide consultative support to hospitalists and other specialties. The hospitalist program ensures internists manage a high proportion of complex cases. Inpatient call/consultation is currently covered by two internists during the day (in week-long blocks) and one at night, with night call approximately one night in eight. Recruitment will expand daytime coverage to three internists.

A rapid-access clinic is under development with administrative support, which will further expand the role of internal medicine once additional internists are recruited. A parallel Respirology call group, most of whom also provide GIM coverage, may serve as a model for other subspecialties. Subspecialists assist and consult with other internists as needed.

Successful candidates are expected to follow up with patients in the community and are encouraged to open a consult practice. Previous recruits have quickly established busy practices. The department is affiliated with the University of British Columbia as a Community Internal Medicine teaching site. Applicants must apply for a clinical appointment with UBC and are encouraged to pursue eventual appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor or higher. Participation in teaching residents, fellows, and 4th-year medical students is required.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the most responsible physician for high-acuity patients in a community hospital setting.
• Provide consultative support to hospitalists and other specialties for less acute cases.
• Participate in inpatient call/consultation, including daytime (week-long blocks) and night call (approximately one night in eight).
• Follow up with patients in the community and establish a consult practice.
• Teach and supervise residents, fellows, and 4th-year medical students as part of UBC’s Community Internal Medicine program.
• Perform basic procedural skills, including lumbar puncture, central line insertion, chest tubes, and management of ventilated ICU patients (in collaboration with paramedical staff).
• Contribute to the development of a rapid-access clinic and potential expansion of subspecialty call models.

Requirements

• CPSBC certification and FRCPC certification in Internal Medicine.
• CMPA coverage.
• Demonstrated clinical experience in all areas of General Medicine.
• Proficiency in basic procedural skills (e.g., lumbar puncture, central line insertion, chest tubes).
• Experience managing ventilated ICU patients in conjunction with paramedical staff.

Qualifications (Assets)

• Experience and demonstrated skills in point-of-care ultrasound.
• Leadership or medical administration experience.
• Teaching experience or interest in medical education.

Appointment Details

Initial appointment is provisional for one year, typically followed by a permanent staff appointment.

Pay

Compensation is fee-for-service.