WHA has 12 FT family physician positions, funded by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. As you have seen by our advertisement, we are in the process of recruiting into these positions. 

You will be based in Moose Factory, at the Weeneebayko General Hospital, serving the communities of Moose Factory (on an island in the Moose River), Moosonee (across the Moose River from Moose Factory), the coastal communities of Fort Albany, Kashechewan, Attawapiskat, and Peawanuck. These communities are all along the western shores of James Bay except for Peawanuck which is the furthest north and is situated on the Winisk River just slightly south of the Hudson Bay shore. 

The James Bay catchment area consists of approx. 10,000- 12,000 predominantly Cree First Nations people. 50% of the population is divided between Moose Factory and Moosonee and the coastal communities. Some of the First Nations people are uni-lingual and so interviews with clients are done through available interpreters.  The Cree people are very pleasant and are a pleasure to work with. 

Moose Factory, being an island in the Moose River, means we are accessible by boat in the summer, ice road in the winter and by helicopter at break-up and freeze up.  The coastal communities are accessible by fixed wing aircraft and helicopter for emergency evacuations.  The accessibility to the water provides many with enjoyable summer sporting activities.  There is canoeing and kayaking as well as sight seeing tours and fishing.  In the winter, the river offers us an opportunity to ice fish, cross country ski and skidoo. 

The practice consists of family medicine clinics, Emergency Room shifts (12 hrs each), Obstetrics for Low risk deliveries and in-patient care at the hospital.  All the family physicians have CCFP and some, FCFP qualifications. In addition, we would like all physicians to maintain their ACLS, NRP and PALS as well as an ALSO Course or ALARM course.  With our affiliation agreement with Queen's University, you will support the educational process of residents and clerks from universities across Canada. You will be appointed as a Lecturer with the Department of Family Medicine at Queen’s University. 

The long-standing affiliation with Queen’s University and their specialists gives us excellent support from the specialist group in Kingston. These specialists visit on site here in Moose Factory several times per year for each specialty and more if the referral patterns warrant it.

The family physicians have access to consultative services from the specialists in Kingston 24/7 by phone. 

A number of new initiatives have given us access to care, closer to home. These are a digital mammography unit, which will be operational in late September, tele-ophthalmology for retinal assessments of the diabetic population of our region, a four bed dialysis unit which will be a satellite unit of Kingston General and will be operational by Christmas time. In addition to these initiatives, we have a PACs system for radiological films in the Diagnostic Imaging Department. This system transmits images through the Internet for access to a radiologist in Timmins and for the purpose of storage and retrieval of the files as necessary for both family physicians and specialists who visit. 

One of the most attractive aspects of the family practice is the variety of work. The family physicians have developed a 10-week rotation schedule for which they seem very happy. It allows a nice balance of home-life and work.  One week of the 10 you will be the hospitalist at the Weeneebayko General Hospital with a patient load of approximately 30 patients, 12 of which are long term care clients, plus post-partum care and the care of the new born. The hospitalist is on call for the New Born in the event of a delivery.  

Friday mornings are allocated for administration activities and meetings. Once every 5 weeks you will do a week of family medicine clinics in either Moose Factory or Moosonee. These clinics run from 0900 hrs. - 1630 hrs. Emergency coverage is 12 hours per shift 0800-2000hrs, 2000hrs – 0800hrs the following day. 

Once in five weeks the physician travels to a community up the coast for a three-day visit (this includes your travel time) and then one and one/half days in clinic in either Moose Factory or Moosonee. 

The remaining four weeks are spent doing a combination of emergency shifts and clinics.  The emergency physician is also first call for obstetrics and coastal phone calls from the nurses in the “clinics” at the small hospital wings in two of the communities and the Nursing Stations in the other two communities.  

The most scheduled hours of work per week are 48 hrs.  On the weekends, the emergency physician rounds on the in-patients and the hospiatlist is only on-call for new born care in the delivery room. 

During the full time physician leaves, we have locum coverage so as to avoid work over-load. We try to utilize the OMA locum program funding to assist us in covering the costs of the locum appointments for vacation and CME leave. 

We have a benefit for all physicians in that we fund 2-4 weeks of continuing education (CME) per annum, plus vacation leave from 6-8 weeks. 

Accommodation is provided to the physicians free of charge .This includes all utility costs including full cable hook-up and high speed internet.  The accommodations are supplied with modern furnishings, which, means you are only required to bring personal effects to make your accommodations more like your home.  Relocation allowances are provided as well. These benefits are different for each year you work with us. 

If you wish to view a copy of the contract please feel free to ask:

 

Susie Jackson

Administrative Officer for Physician Services

Weeneebayko Health Ahtuskaywin

 

1-705-658-4544 Ex. 2354

susie.jackson@wha.on.ca