Onboarding

Introduction to Island Health

	Welcome to Island Health an introduction to your new health authority.
	Living our Values: Island Health vision, purpose, values, code of conduct and expectations.
	Respectful Workplace: This module explains Island Health’s Respectful Workplace Policy and corresponding Procedures, and the Enhanced Medical Staff Support team can provide support regarding issues of medical staff professionalism.
	Cultural Safety There are 50 First Nations on Vancouver Island and three cultural families: Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth, and Kwakawa’wakw. Each cultural family contains a number of First Nations. The department of Aboriginal Health contains numerous links to local, provincial and national resources.  Introduction to Cultural Safety and Humility: This module provides an introduction to Cultural Safety and Humility in Island Health. For further training Opportunities:  San'Yas Indigenous Cultural Safety:  Cultural safety is about fostering a climate where the unique history of Indigenous peoples is recognized and respected in order to provide appropriate care and services in an equitable and safe way, without discrimination. This website includes information about the San’yas: Indigenous Cultural Safety Training Program delivered by the Provincial Health Services Authority of British Columbia.
	LearningHub is a secure, province-wide course registry and learning management system. It is hosted by PHSA (Provincial Health Services Authority), and shared by 7 BC health authorities.

Island Health Structures

Below is a brief overview of key Island Health structures working collaboratively to support medical staff and the entire Island Health network. Additional information including contacts can be found through the hyperlink heading of each section.

• Island Health Executive Team: The Island Health executive team is responsible for meeting the health needs of the population we serve in an effective and sustainable way. In collaboration with the BC Ministry of Health, executive establishes performance objectives regarding the delivery of health care, and works to ensure those goals are met or exceeded.
• CGII - Intranet
  At Island Health, clinical governance is the cornerstone of delivering safe, high-quality care. This structured framework ensures continuous improvement, fosters accountability, and promotes collaboration across all levels of service delivery. 
  Clinical governance is integral to meeting Accreditation Canada (AC) standards, embedding quality improvement and quality assurance into daily operations, and aligning with AC's benchmarks. Through this approach, we ensure that accreditation is not just a milestone but a testament to Island Health's unwavering commitment to patient safety and sustained excellence.
• Strategic Quality Improvement (SQI) - Intranet
  Our team works to improve the quality of patient care and outcomes by using and coaching in the use of quality improvement (QI) methods and tools. We support everyday learning and improvement, supporting Clinical Governance improvement initiatives aligned with Island Health’s organizational strategic priorities.
  • The Strategic Quality Improvement (SQI) Team is committed to promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
• Organizational Structure: Governed by a board of directors and led by the executive team, Island Health delivers its services through the organizational structures outlined on this page.
• Medical Staff Structures: This page provides information regarding how Island Health medical staff are organized, including charts outlining the Departmental and Operational structures.
• Medical Staff Governance: Island Health medical staff are governed by applicable legislation, medical staff rules and bylaws, and Island Health policies. These regulations and rules govern the activities and expectations of Island Health's medical staff.
• Medical Staff Associations: There are 11 local Medical Staff Associations across Island Health providing collaborative engagement and advocacy for medical staff.

Medical and Academic Affairs

Island Health's Medical and Academic Affairs provides services to support an engaged and healthy medical staff that works with Island Health to co-lead and respond effectively to the rapidly changing world of health care.

• Contract Management
  The Contract Management team negotiates and prepares medical staff contracts for clinical, on-call, medical leadership and physician administrative services, processes medical staff payments, facilitates medical staff contract management and provides stewardship for Ministry funds that support these services.
• Medical Staff Compensation
  The Medical Staff, Compensation team aligns with Medical and Academic Affairs’ physician engagement priorities and Medical Staff Human Resource Plan development by working collaboratively with programs to define physicians’ roles, services, and organizational impacts as well as providing support through financial analysis.
• Physician Quality Improvement (PQI)
  The Physician Quality Improvement (PQI) team offers online learning, introductory workshops and a comprehensive 12-month Cohort training program to all medical staff including privileged GPs, Specialists, Midwives and Nurse Practitioners.
• Recruitment
  The Medical Staff Recruitment team is responsible for the following: Recruitment of General Practitioners and Specialists (pre-screening of applicants, obtaining references, coordination of interviews and site visits, and preparation of offer letters), Recruitment of International Medical Graduates (IMGs) (Provide ongoing support to IMGs and their families as they relocate to Vancouver Island).
• Credentialing and Privileging
  The Credentialing and Privileging team is responsible for medical staff appointments (also known as credentialing) and Island Health privileges. Each physician, midwife, dentist and nurse practitioner must receive an appointment to the medical staff prior to Island Health practicing in our facilities or community services. The Credentialing and Privileging team coordinates new applications for privileges, reappointment processes and changes to privileges as governed by Island Health's Medical Staff Bylaws and Medical Staff Rules.
• Human Resource Planning and Governance
  The Human Resource Planning and Governance Team is strategically aligned with Island Health Leadership and the Health Authority Medical Advisory Committee (HAMAC). This team: Oversees implementation of strategic initiatives to support all aspects of medical staff governance and engagement in accordance with the Medical Staff Bylaws (MSB) and Medical Staff Rules (MSR), and Island Health policies and procedures. Supports the development, implementation, and administration of the Medical Staff Department Structure.
• Communications, Education and Development
  The Communications, Education and Development team works on Improving communication and engagement through medical leader onboarding, orientation & town halls, medical staff recognition, medical staff onboarding, navigation supports & resources, and enhanced rural programs liaison support. Supporting education and development through departmental CPD rounds, CME accreditation advisory support, community rural CME support, leadership development programing and education funding administration.
• Enhanced Medical Staff Support (EMSS)
  The EMSS team in Medical Affairs supports medical leaders who may be asked to attend to concerns raised regarding professionalism of medical staff. EMSS supports and helps to resolve professional issues as they arise, and works proactively to enhance the capacity and ability of medical and other leaders across the organization to understand, manage and resolve concerns.
• The Medical and Academic Affairs team  is under the leadership of Dr. Ben Williams, Vice President, Medicine, Quality, Research & Chief Medical Officer. Click here to learn more about Medical and Academic Affairs.

Get to know Island Health Sites

 North Island

Comox Valley Hospital Rural sites eligible for rural incentives	Port Hardy Hospital Rural sites eligible for rural incentives	Port McNeil Hospital Rural sites eligible for rural incentives
Campbell River and District Hospital Rural sites eligible for rural incentives

Central Island 

Cowichan District Hospital Rural sites eligible for rural incentives	Lady Minto Hospital Rural sites eligible for rural incentives	Tofino General Hospital Rural sites eligible for rural incentives
Nanaimo Regional General Hospital	Westcoast General  Hospital Rural sites eligible for rural incentives

South Island

Victoria General Hospital

Royal Jubilee Hospital

Saanich Peninsula Hospital

Get to know Urgent and Primary Care Centres Sites 

Island Health operates several Urgent and Primary Care Centres (UPCCs) providing access to same-day, urgent, non-emergency health care. UPCCs are open evenings, weekends, and statutory holidays from 8am to 8pm.  By logging in to Island Health’s intranet, contracted family physicians and nurse practitioners can to learn more about the integral role UPCC sites play in same-day access care.  

Administrative Onboarding Tasks

Sign and Return offer Letter: Email your signed offer letter to Recruitment medstaffrecruitment@islandhealth.ca. If you have not received an offer letter, follow-up with the Site Manager. 

Confirm Credentialing: You will receive an email from the credentialing office Credentialing_Office@islandhealth.ca. 
 

Confirm Rural and Remote Incentives: Contact Recruitment to see if your role is eligible.  
 

Review, Sign and Return Service Contract: Return your signed service contract to PCNMedAffairs@islandhealth.ca. 
 

Review invoicing instructions: Invoicing instructions are included with your contract. Please familiarize yourself with how to complete and submit invoices for payment. Detailed information about Hours Reporting and After Hours Premiums is available on the Medical Staff website. 
 

Direct Deposit Set-up: You will receive an enrollment form for direct deposit from PCNMedAffairs@islandhealth.ca. Please fill it out and return to ensure payments can be deposited directly to your desired account.  
 

Register or Update Excelleris Health Report Delivery Service: There are two delivery services. If you are switching Island Health sites, you will need to update them, if you are new to Island Health you will need to register: 

• Island Health Distribution of Diagnostic Results and Clinical Documents: please complete both pages on the sign-up form 

• LifeLabs: please complete the one-page form. 
   

Request access to Pharmanet through PRIME 

All prescriptions dispensed in a community pharmacy in BC are entered into PharmaNet. Please request Ministry of Health approval to access PharmaNet through PRIME : 

You will need: 

• BC Services Card App BC Services Card.  

• Workplace Administrator Email, use: PharmaNetEnrollment@islandhealth.ca 

• Nurse Practitioners also require: 

• British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives Registration Number. This is  your unique 4 or 5-digit license number. 

• British Columbia College of Nurses & Midwives (BCCNM) PharmaNet ID. This is provided by BCCNM in your registration account. 

Enrollment Process: 

• Identity Verification: Log in to the PRIME Enrollment Portal using your BC Services Card app. 

• Professional Info: Select "Individual Access" and enter your college and license details. 

• Workplace Link: Enter PharmaNetEnrollment@islandhealth.ca as your PharmaNet Administrator. 

• Terms of Access: Review and sign the Ministry of Health Terms of Access. 

• Confirmation: Once approved, you will be issued a Global PharmaNet ID (GPID). 

• Island Health Notification: Please share your confirmation with Island Health to update your Cerner profile allowing you access to PharmaNet through PRIME. 
   

Enroll in Results Management: By signing up for Results Management you will receive Island Health results and clinic documents electronically. 
 

Create a Learning Hub account: Many recommended and optional courses are offered by Island Health through Learning Hub. Set up an account with your Island Health email to access the learning resources.  
 

Sign up for a Pathways account: Pathways has a Medical Care Directory that provides information about doctors and medical clinics in BC, as well as a Community Service Directory of community. You can request access and set up an account on the Pathways site. 
 

Consider Associate Privileges: Contracted physicians and nurse practitioners working in community settings, may wish to apply for associate privileges at the hospital site nearest to their practice. Associate privileges provide contracted physicians and nurse practitioners with IDs for physical access to hospitals, access to library services, such as mobile access to the UptoDate app, and allows them to order outpatient services for their patients. Connect with your Medical Leader for more details on how to apply. 

Policies

Island Health policies provide a shared foundation for how we practice and interact with one another. As you begin your work with Island Health, please review the following core policies, which are especially relevant to everyday practice and professional conduct:  

• Primary Care Site Contracted Healthcare Professionals  

• Code of Conduct  

• Confidential Information - Privacy Rights of Personal Information Policy  

• Confidential Information - Third Party, VIHA Business & Other Non-personal Information  

• Conflict of Interest  

• Respectful Workplace Policy  

• Theft, Fraud & Corruption Policy  

• Information and Data Governance  

• Indigenous-specific Anti-Racism and Discrimination policy  

Onboarding Recommended Courses

As you begin working in Primary Care at Island Health, there are several recommended courses to complete as part of your onboarding. All courses are housed on Island Health’s Learning Hub. Set up an account with your Island Health email to access the following courses: 

• Confidential Information Management (CIM) Code of Practice,  

• Violence Prevention for Physicians  

• Respectful Workplace  

• Introduction to Cultural Humility  

Recommended Supports

You may wish to consider the following optional supports during your onboarding journey:  

Finding medical care for you and your family 

• Family Physicians – Doctors of BC offers a dedicated Primary Care Provider Matching Service to help physicians and medical trainees find a family doctor Physician Health Program (PHP) . 

• Nurse Practitioners – If you or your family are in need of a family  physician or nurse practitioner, you can sign up for the BC Health Connect Registry. 

 

Join Doctors of BC: Family Physicians may with to join Doctors of BC, who provide a wide range of programs, services and supports including health benefits and remuneration for payments for Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA). 

 

Join your local Division of Family Practice: Divisions of Family Practice are community-based groups of family physicians working together to achieve common health care goals. Nurse Practitioners may connect with their local chapter as they may be eligible to join. 

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