Internal Medicine

About the role

The Department of Medicine of the Vancouver Island Authority (Island Health) has three openings available for full-time General Internists at the Cowichan District Hospital located in Duncan, BC. The successful applicant would be joining the existing group of 4 general internists in providing inpatient and outpatient care to the residents of the Cowichan Valley.

Facility and environment

The Cowichan District Hospital is a 148-bed acute care facility that enjoys an exceptionally collegial atmosphere amongst the general and specialty medical staff. Local specialist services include General and Orthopedic Surgery, Anesthesiology, Urology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, ENT, Ophthalmology, and Radiology. Construction is underway for the new CDH replacement project, projected to open in 2027 with 203 beds (185 operational on opening), including 6 ICU and 7 HAU beds under the oversight of the Internal Medicine service.

Teaching and training

Teaching is a big component of hospital work. Third-year Integrated Clerkship medical students are present year-round, and Internal Medicine and Family Medicine residents come for electives. The Cowichan Valley has been approved for a new family medicine residency program set to open in June 2024.

Responsibilities

• Participate in a 1-in-6 paid on-call schedule for consultative services
• Provide directive care on the medical and surgical wards
• Perform electrodiagnostics (stress testing, ECG, Holter interpretation)
• Manage the closed 7-bed ICU on a rotating basis
• Establish a full-time outpatient practice in the Cowichan Valley

Clinical scope

Inpatient work spans the full breadth of General Internal Medicine, subspecialty medicine, and critical care, with high volume and high acuity. Outpatient referrals span the full breadth of General Internal Medicine and subspecialty medicine, with flexibility to develop a particular area of interest.

Skills and experience

A high degree of comfort with a broad range of internal medicine problems, cardiology, and critical care is essential.

Benefits

• $10,000 Recruitment Incentive
• 4.20% Fee-for-Service Premium
• $6,373.80 Annual Flat Fee Retention Payment
• Annual Rural CME allowance: $3,000 for 3–4 years, $6,000 for more than 4 years

Community information

The City of Duncan is located in the beautiful Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island and enjoys Canada’s most temperate climate. The area features diverse landscapes from lush countryside to scenic coastal villages and charming inland communities, encompassing freshwater lakes, saltwater beaches and marinas, and farmland. Outdoor activities include hiking, biking, golfing, sailing, canoeing, and ocean kayaking. The South Cowichan Valley boasts five top vineyards and wineries. Public education is complemented by renowned local private schools, and Victoria—45 minutes away—offers excellent educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities. Vancouver Island provides a rewarding career combined with an enviable quality of life and breathtaking natural beauty.