The Rural Practice Subsidiary Agreement between the B.C. Government, Doctors of BC and the Medical Services Commission aims to enhance patient care and availability of physician services in rural and remote areas of B.C., by addressing unique and challenging clinical circumstances encountered by rural physicians.
- RSA Criteria
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Community eligibility for the Rural Practice Subsidiary Agreement is determined by evaluating its level of isolation. The following criteria are used to complete this evaluation:
- Number of designated specialties within 70 km
- Number of general practitioners within 35 km
- Community size
- Distance from major medical community
- Degree of latitude
- Specialist Centre
- Location arc
Each of these criteria are applied to the community independently of one another and a set number of points are awarded to the community. These points (based on a 5 year rolling average) are then used to assign the community to one of four categories:
- 20 or more points: “A” community
- Between 15 and 19.99 points: “B” community
- Between 1.5 and 14.99 points: “C” community
- Between 0.1 and 1.49 points: “D” community
- The category assignment for each community determines eligibility for support through Rural Practice Programs.
- RSA Communities, Designations, SCCs and RCME contacts
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The category assignment for each community determines eligibility for support through Rural Practice Programs.
The Service Clarification Code (SCC) for the community in which the service has been provided must be indicated on all billings submitted by the physician in order to receive rural fee premiums.
For Rural Retention Program (RRP) points, fee premium percentages, and flat fee amounts for each community, please visit this page.
For information about Island Health’s Rural Continuing Medical Education (RCME) Community Program, visit here.
Community Community Designation Service Clarification
Code (SCC)
RCME Physician
Contact
Ahousat / Hesquiaht First NationA A4
Alert Bay / Namgis First NationA A1
Dr. Jessica Macleod
BamfieldA B8
Campbell River / Campbell River Indian Band (Wei Wai Kum) / Dzawada'enuxw First Nation / Homalco First NationC CR
Dr. Duncan Douglas
Chemainus / Halalt First Nation / Lyackson First NationC CM
Dr. Tannis Morris
Cobble HillC CE
Dr. Paul Harris
Cortes Island / Klahoose First NationA C4
Dr. Jenna Creaser
Courtenay / Comox / Cumberland / K'ómoks First NationC CC
Dr. Kevin Swanson
Denman IslandC D2
Dr. Ron Wilson
Duncan / N. Cowichan / Cowichan BandC D4
Dr. Glenn Robinson
Gabriola IslandC G7
Dr. Erin Cusack
Galiano IslandB G5
Dr. Erin Carlson
Gilford Island / Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’misA GK
Gold River / Mowachaht-Muchalaht FirstA G2
Dr. Matthew Ness
HolbergA H2
Hornby IslandA H5
Dr. Laura Chalfin
Hot Springs CoveA H7
Kingcome (Dzawada'enuxw First Nation)A K6
KyuquotA K7
LadysmithC L4
Dr. Vivan Kilvert
Lake Cowichan / Lake Cowichan First NationC L5
Lasqueti IslandA L8
Mayne IslandB M7
Dr. Juliana Losier
Mill BayC MB
Nitinat / Ditidaht First NationC N4
Parksville / Qualicum / Qualicum First NationC PQ
Dr. David Owen
Pender IslandB P8
Dr. Bruce Rebner
Penelakut IslandC PI
Port AlberniC PA
Dr. Greg de Pape
Port AliceA P2
Dr. Jessica MacLeod
Port Hardy / Gwa'sala-Nakwazda'xw / Kwakiutl First Nation (Kwakwaka'wakw) / Tlatlasikwala First NationA P3
Dr. Jessica MacLeod
Port McNeillA P4 Dr. Jessica MacLeod
Port Renfrew / Pacheedaht First NationA PN
Quadra Island / Cape Mudge Indian BandC Q1
Dr. Steve Hughes
QuatsinoA Q4
Saltspring IslandC SS
Dr. Peter Verheul
Saturna IslandB S7
SaywardA S1
Shawnigan LakeC SL
Dr. Meghan Chabot
SointulaA S6
TahsisA T2
Tofino /Tla-O-Qui-Aht First NationsA T4
Dr. Luke Williston
Ucluelet / Toquaht Nation / Ucluetlet First Nation (Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ)A U1
Dr. Luke Williston
WossA W1
Zeballos / Ehattesaht First Nation / Nuchatlaht Indian BandA Z1
This webpage is under construction as part of a new initiative for Rural Physician Support. We welcome your feedback and thank you for visiting this page. Please contact Rural Programs’ Liaison, medstaffdevelopment@islandhealth.ca with questions and suggestions.