Edmonton West PCN Medical Director

March 8, 2017

Alberta Primary Care Networks

In 2003, Alberta Health (AH), Alberta's regional health authorities (now Alberta Health Services (AHS)) and the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) established the Primary Care Initiative to improve access to family physicians and other frontline health care providers. Primary Care Networks (PCNs) bring local physicians and other health care professionals together to provide comprehensive patient care to Albertans. PCNs develop solutions to meet the needs of the local community and their health issues. There are now 42 PCNs operating throughout Alberta with more than 3,300 family physicians, and more than 1,100 other health practitioners.

The Edmonton West PCN comprises more than 180 doctors and 90 health professionals who provide the best primary care for patients at 52 clinics in the west and southwest regions of Edmonton. The team of health professionals include not only physicians, but nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, behavioural health consultants, social workers, and exercise specialists. The EWPCN is committed to providing comprehensive, coordinated, 24-hour access to primary care services seven days a week.

The Position

Reporting to the President of the Board of Directors of the Edmonton West Family Physicians Non-Profit Corporation, the Medical Director of the Edmonton West Primary Care Network (EWPCN) is a key leadership position within the EWPCN. The Medical Director will work part time (0.4 FTE) in a dyad relationship with the EWPCN Executive Director to provide clinical business leadership in a shared decision making model. Together, they oversee the EWPCN budget and operations. The Medical Director will be responsible for supporting clinical leadership for physicians within the EWPCN and will also be a key link between the EWPCN physicians, other Primary Care Networks (PCNs), Alberta Health Services, and provincial physician organizations. This position provides continuity of physician leadership over time and will support the Board with information and advice for decision making.

Success in the first year will be determined by the candidate’s ability to:

  • Work with the Executive Director to establish and improve the means by which programs and services offered by the PCN are evaluated in a manner that reflects the value of their outcomes 
  • Engage member physicians to be more knowledgeable and engaged in the uptake of activities which support of the Medical Home model 
  • Support the development of the 2018-21 EWPCN Business Plan in accordance with Alberta Health process and timelines

Qualifications

The Medical Director must have a medical degree and be eligible to practice medicine in the Province of Alberta, with a minimum 5 years of Family Medicine practice. They will also demonstrate proven leadership skills; a good understanding of primary healthcare in Alberta; knowledge of and appreciation for the cultural diversity within the EWPCN catchment area and the unique models of health care delivery that may exist; and the ability to research and incorporate emerging medical information and best practices. The Candidate will be an outgoing, persistent and energetic individual with excellent follow-up and problem solving skills and the ability to make sound decisions. They will be politically astute with strong oral and written communication skills coupled with appropriate computer skills.

Please visit http://www.conroyross.com/opportunities/medical-director/ for a complete role description and information on how to apply.

The Alberta Medical Association stands as an advocate for its physician members, providing leadership & support for their role in the provision of quality health care.