Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster is looking to recruit a group of interested and suitable family physicians to provide the medical care to the surgical patients, initially on 4S/N as a pilot. These physicians are responsible for providing care from 0700 – 1700hrs seven days a week. After 1700hrs, the surgical residents assess and deal with the medical problems, with the FP being the staff they would report and handover to. The physician group is providing a full scope of care from admission to discharge with a focus on quality assessments and comprehensive discharge/transfer out summaries. It is envisioned that a group of six or seven FPs could do a week at a time but the size of the group would be dependent on interest and availability.
This role has historically been funded by FFS and a call stipend. Part of the pilot is to assess how that funding model would continue to work and whether it would provide suitable compensation for this enhanced and comprehensive FP role.