Island Health (the Vancouver Island Health Authority) seeks a part-time (0.2 FTE) Medical Lead for the Medical and Academic Affairs portfolio, working primarily in the Enhanced Medical Staff Support (EMSS) service, under the direction of, and reporting to, the Executive Medical Director of Medical Staff Governance.  The geographic location for this position is flexible and may be tailored to suit the successful candidate.  Personal credibility with medical staff will be a key determinant of success, and for this reason we are seeking to appoint a member of the medical staff.

Enhanced Medical Staff Support (EMSS) comprises a range of services to support medical leaders dealing with medical staff whose performance or behaviour in the work environment is challenging or raises professional concerns.  The approach is supportive whenever possible and focused on developing insight and seeking positive resolution.  The job has two main components: reactive operational work to support medical leaders, and in some cases medical staff, dealing with active problems and a proactive program to build capacity and capability to enable medical leaders and their administrative staff to better deal with, document and resolve these issues. The EMSS team comprises the EMD of Medical Staff Governance, the Medical Director of EMSS, and an EMSS Consultant, and provides support to leaders across the Island.

SCOPE:                      

• Provide leadership and direction for implementation and ongoing development of the EMSS service.
• Provide advice and active support to the CMO, medical leaders and their administrative support staff, Local Medical Advisory Committees (LMACs), medical staff, and staff from across the organization on emergent EMSS issues and other Medical and Academic Affairs work.
• When required, liaise with agencies from outside Island Health on EMSS issues. These may include the professional colleges such as the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, lawyers, medical leaders from other Health Authorities, and others.
• Liaise with Island Health departments (detailed below), clinical programs, geographical structures and departments as required to ensure a comprehensive and coherent approach to managing EMSS issues.

ACCOUNTABILITY:

Ensures the EMSS service is:

• Aligned with Island Health strategic goals and objectives, and with the program goals and objectives of Medical and Academic Affairs.
• Credible with the Medical Staff Organization.
• Benchmarked and measurable to ensure movement towards a goal.
• In effective communication with all stakeholders.
• Integrated within and across programs, geographies and services.
• Delivered in an effective and efficient manner.

SERVICE REQUIREMENTS:

Leadership

• Provides direction and leadership of the EMSS team.
• Provides a (part-time) point of contact for medical leaders dealing with EMSS issues.

Governance

• Works with the EMD, EMSS Medical Director and EMSS Consultant, to provide a well-governed, coherent and efficient EMSS service.
• Briefs CMO on emergent issues and risks, as required.

Strategy

• Assists CMO and EMD with developing direction and strategy for EMSS.
• Interprets direction and strategy provided by CMO and EMD to deliver consistent and high-quality EMSS service procedures for use by medical leaders and others dealing with EMSS issues.

Operational

• Works with medical leaders to maintain timeline and tempo of EMSS issues.
• Maintains broad awareness of cases and issues.
• Provides editorial oversight of confidential weekly summary of EMSS issues.
• May conduct investigations commissioned by CMO when local leadership is involved, compromised, or unable to respond.
• May include Stage 3 reviews.

Liaises on operational matters with (not exclusive):

• QPS and other quality-related departments;
• Psychological Safety/Respectful Workplace; Risk Management;
• College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC;
• Physician Health Program; and
• Legal advisors, both internal and external.

Teaching

• Teaches and coaches leaders on EMSS matters, including medical, other professions and administrative.

Research & organizational learning

• Contributes to knowledge base, both internal and external.
• Provides content for EMSS training events.

Additional Information: Part-Time (0.2FTE)