The Department Head and Island Medical Director Critical Care is a senior leadership position responsible for ensuring high quality Critical Care services across Island Health.  Reporting to the Chief Medical Executive and the Executive Medical Director (EMD) with responsibility for Medicine and Critical Care, the DHIMD oversees the self-governance of critical care physicians and other members of medical staff working within the area of Critical Care who practice in Island Health facilities, in accordance with Island Health’s Medical Staff Bylaws and Medical Staff Rules. The DHIMD also supports operation of Critical Care activities and programs through co-leadership position that shares responsibility for ensuring high quality Critical Care services. With the respective Co-Leader, the DHIMD works proactively with others (including patients) to ensure continuous quality improvement of service delivery.

The DHIMD is ultimately accountable to the Chief Medical Executive and receives support from Medical and Academic Affairs to carry out departmental responsibilities. For operational matters, the DHIDM closely with the EMD for Medicine and Critical Care. The successful candidate will be a Member of the Active staff of the Department of Critical Care.

Main responsibilities – Departmental:

1. Medical workforce planning: Collaboratively monitors and anticipates departmental workforce needs, and works with Medical and Academic Affairs to address identified needs.
2. Practice standards: Guides implementation of procedures to create and routinely monitor medical practice standards, including the use of standards in practice assessment.
3. Research and education: supports department members to conduct research and to provide medical education through mentorship, resource allocation and departmental policy development. Ensures department member workload accommodates research and medical education activities.
4. Individual practitioner quality (IPQ): Facilitates continuous improvement of IPQ by ensuring effective:
   
   • Credentialing and privileging activities, including supporting Division Heads and Chiefs of Staff in local privileging matters, and ensuring competent reviewers can be found for in-depth reviews.
   • Continuing professional development (CPD) activities, including development of an annual Departmental CPD plan.
   • Practitioner performance enhancement activities, in collaboration with Enhanced Medical Staff Support (EMSS) team.
      

Main responsibilities – Operational and Quality:

1. Will co-chair the critical care operational and quality care networks.
2. Works closely with the Administrative Co-Leader to ensure program service delivery is efficient, effective and integrated across Island Health sites and to support change and adaptation to shifting priorities and service needs.
3. Leads engagement of physicians and staff in continuous quality improvement of service delivery.
4. Ensures appropriate investigation and resolution at the appropriate site and level of the organization of program-related Patient Safety Learning System (PSLS) and Patient Care and Quality Office (PCQO) events.
5. Monitors performance jointly with Co-Leader, and makes course corrections when necessary.
6. Oversees activities that advance technology and data use to improve service delivery in collaboration with the relevant IMIT, Quality and other teams.
7. Supports medical leaders with local planning as needed in alignment with strategic or quality initiatives