General Internal Medicine Physicians

GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE PHYSICIANS

Associate Positions with focus on Virtual GIM Care

Medicine Program, Trillium Health Partners

Trillium Health Partners (THP) is the largest community-based academic health network in Ontario serving over one million residents in the communities of Mississauga, Peel Region and West Toronto.  The hospital encompasses three (3) main sites – Credit Valley Hospital (CVH), Mississauga Hospital (MH), and Queensway Health Centre (QHC) – offering a full range of acute care hospital services, as well as a variety of community-based specialized programs including the Peel Regional Cancer Centre.

THP recently launched a Virtual Hub to support long-term care (LTC) homes, primary care providers, and patients in the community. The vision for this program is to provide streamlined access to System Navigation, General Internal Medicine (GIM), Sub-Specialists, Home & Community Care, Diagnostics, and other valuable services through a single point of access to reduce avoidable visits to the emergency department where applicable.

To support the GIM service of the Virtual Hub, the Division of General Medicine is looking to fill 2.5 FTE Associate Staff positions with a focus on Virtual Care support.

The successful GIM Physicians will provide GIM support to Virtual Hub’s services including but not limited to LTC Virtual Clinic, Innovation Clinic, and SCOPE (Seamless Care Optimizing Patient Experience) for a minimum of 10-11 weeks per year. The GIM Physicians may also serve new external innovative partnerships as THP builds additional virtual care pathways and services.

In addition, the GIM Physicians will participate in MRP care for admitted patients for a minimum of 10-11 weeks per year.  Additional practice opportunities will be available through surge responses as well as the Department of Medicine Unplanned Care agreement, which includes, all Associate, Active and Locum Tenens staff within the Medicine Program. Unplanned care opportunities include, but not limited to, Internal Medicine coverage in the Emergency Department (i.e. on-call), overnight inpatient ward, and code blue coverage.

Current Virtual GIM Services are offered from Monday to Friday between 0800 – 1600 hours for:

  1. Phone consults between THP GIM and the LTC MRP/ Primary care provider, and
  2. Virtual care visits between THP GIM and LTC resident/ Primary care patient via Zoom

Based on their virtual consults, the THP GIM Physicians are able to provide recommendations for care including lab interventions, referral to a specialist, diagnostic imaging recommendation, medication recommendation or referral to the ED.

Virtual Care Scheduling Expectations:

  • Virtual Hub program is a distinct on-call rotation;
  • Shifts are for a 5 day on-call commitment, Monday to Friday from 0800-1600 hours;
  • This on-call rotation may be done in conjunction with another on-call rotation (may change as program expands); and
  • The Virtual Hub services are currently supported by administrative stipend payments and shadow OHIP billing for video visits through a pilot project and the billing process and remuneration may be subject to change in the future.

THP will be providing additional training to successful GIM physicians to inform on the current scheduling process, billing, and virtual GIM consult and visit pathways. The Virtual Hub is currently live at 5 LTC homes with plans to expand to additional LTC homes, and community Primary Care Providers via SCOPE.

Both internal (i.e. current THP credentialed GIMs) and external candidates are eligible to apply for these 2.5 FTE GIM positions. The successful candidates will promote and exemplify excellence in professional practice and conduct, and be licensed or eligible for a license to practice in Ontario by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or its equivalent, and with certification in Internal Medicine by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Excellent interpersonal skills, and a commitment to team based and inter-professional care are essential. Prior experience with virtual care provision would be an asset.

Interested candidates are requested to reply with an expression of interest, 3 references, and curriculum vitae by no later than March 13, 2023 to:

Dr. Shaan Chugh

 Medical Director, THP Solutions

&

Dr. Eshan Fernando

Division Head, GIM/Hospitalist Medicine

c/o Sean Sia, Senior Advisor, Medical Affairs

E-mail: [email protected]