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. There is a new replacement hospital with 203 beds including 6 ICU beds and 8 high acuity beds opening in early 2027 replacing the existing Cowichan district hospital. The successful applicants would be joining the existing group of general internists in providing inpatient and outpatient care. 

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. We are well supported by 2 tertiary care hospitals in Victoria and one in Nanaimo. 

The job of the General Internists includes responsibility for an inpatient unit, high acuity beds and ICU beds. The work also 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. We also provide consultation to other services within the hospital and phone consultation to surrounding Family Physicians in the community. 

Our consultation service is broad, without on-site/ in person subspecialty support (e.g. from Cardiology, Respiratory, Nephrology, Endocrinology, Hematology, Gastroenterology). 

Inpatient work would involve a 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.

To be successful in this position, experience is highly recommended in Intensive Care environments. Our practise in the Cowichan Valley includes care and management of presentations typical of a mixed medical-surgical ICU, including shock requiring vasopressor support and other high-acuity conditions. As our ICU frequently manages patients with high-acuity illness, we ask prospective locum or permanent physicians to have both confidence and recent, relevant experience in critical care and procedures required in these environments.

 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 October 2026 and may be subject to change. 

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

Community Information

Nestled in between Victoria and Nanaimo, and comprising of over 15 communities, the Cowichan Valley showcases a rich variety of landscapes — from rolling farmland and countryside to lakes, beaches and quaint coastal villages. The Cowichan Valley is located on the unceded and traditional territories of the Quw’utsun, Malahat, Ts’uubaa-asatx, Halalt, Penelakut, Stz’uminus, Lyackson, Pauquachin, Ditidaht & Pacheedaht Peoples. This region boasts one of Canada’s most temperate and enjoyable climates. Outdoor enthusiasts will find endless adventure opportunities including hiking, biking, golfing, sailing, kayaking and fishing. The Cowichan Valley is celebrated for its top craft beverage producers and a thriving community of local artisans. Families can choose among public education or several private schools nearby. This community has a perfect blend of rural life with convenient access to airports, urban amenities and the scenic Gulf Islands.

New Hospital to open 2027: