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

Our local 148-bed acute care facility, Cowichan District Hospital, boasts an exceptionally collegial and supportive medical community.  Construction is underway for the new CDH replacement project that is projected to open in 2027 with 203 beds, including 6 ICU and 8 HAU beds under the oversight of the Internal Medicine service. The new hospital will also feature increased capacity for endoscopy, expanded scope in the ICU, and an on-site call room for the on-call internist. Other local specialist services include General and Orthopedic Surgery, Anesthesiology, Urology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, ENT, Ophthalmology, and Radiology. Our inpatients are cared for by a combination of full-service community GPs who maintain hospital privileges and a growing Hospitalist service.  There are no local internal medicine subspecialists or intensivists, although we are well supported by our colleagues in Victoria and Nanaimo when needed.  Inpatient work frequently involves teaching, including medical students in the integrated community clerkship program, residents in the local Cowichan family practice program, and visiting residents in both family practice and internal medicine.

Inpatient work would involve participation in a paid 1-in-7 on-call schedule for consultative services, directive care on the medical and surgical wards, electrodiagnostics (stress testing, ECG, Holter interpretation), and rounding in the closed 7-bed ICU on a rotating basis. On-call work tends to be high volume and high acuity, spanning the full breadth of GIM, subspecialty medicine, and critical care. A high degree of comfort with a broad range of internal medicine problems, cardiology and critical care is essential. 

We anticipate that a new members of the group would also establish a full-time outpatient practice in the Cowichan Valley. Outpatient referrals span the full breadth of GIM and subspecialty medicine, but there is substantial flexibility in establishing a particular area of interest, if desired.

Start Date

To be determined

Benefits

May be eligible for additional remuneration in accordance with the Rural Subsidiary Agreement (RSA) including:

• Recruitment Incentive: $10,000 (full-time)
• Relocation Costs Reimbursement: up to $15,000 (amount based on location relocating from)
• Fee Premium: 4.20%
• Annual Flat Fee: $6,508.80
• Rural CME: starting at $3000/annum in year 3 & 4 to a maximum of $6,00.00/annum after 4 years.

The above amounts are current as of August 2024 and may be subject to change. 

For more information, please visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/practitioner-professional-res…

Community Information

Located in the beautiful Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, the City of Duncan enjoys Canada's most temperate climate. Characterized by diverse landscapes from lush countryside to scenic coastal villages and charming inland communities, the Cowichan Valley, encompasses freshwater lakes, saltwater beaches and marinas, and farmland. The area offers a wide variety of attractions for outdoor enthusiasts including great hiking and biking trails, golfing, sailing, canoeing and ocean kayaking. In addition to many local artisans and attractions, the South Cowichan Valley boasts five top vineyards and wineries. Public education in Duncan is complemented by several renowned local private schools. 

Despite its rural designation, with Victoria located 45 minutes south and Nanaimo located 45 minutes north, the Cowichan Valley also provides convenient access to multiple airports, cultural experiences, and urban amenities.