Medical Panels Commissioner

RECRUITMENT POSTING

Medical Panels Program

Competition #: 723

Ministry: Labour and Immigration

Open Date:  May 14, 2021

Closing Date: May 30, 2021

Role: Medical Panels Commissioner

Role Required

The Minister of Labour and Immigration is seeking applications from individuals interested in the role of the Medical Panels Commissioner for the Medical Panels Program (MPP).

 Location

The office is located in Edmonton. Candidates should be available to travel throughout the province as required.

About the Agency

The Medical Panels Commissioner (MPC) is responsible for administering the operation of the medical panels within Alberta, as stated in the Workers’ Compensation Act and the Medical Panels Regulation.  Each medical panel is made up of three physicians with specialized knowledge in the medical area in dispute.

The MPC provides the Workers’ Compensation Board-Alberta (WCB) and Appeals Commission for Alberta Workers’ Compensation (Appeals Commission) with an impartial and independent decision-making process to resolve medical issues that affect a claimant’s right to compensation. The MPC takes a collaborative, fact-based and focused approach to resolving disputes of medical opinions and helping injured workers have more involvement in this aspect of their workers’ compensation claim.

Role Description

In this senior role, you will be responsible for striking medical panels and providing consultative advice and assistance to the Registrar, Medical Panels Program. This includes all matters relating to arranging a medical panel when there is a medical dispute in a worker’s claim within the workers’ compensation system. Your proven track record of fostering effective relationships with the health community  will help you establish strong relationships with stakeholders across the workers’ compensation system. It will also assist you in finding solutions to address obstacles and disincentives to physician involvement on medical panels.

The Medical Panels Commissioner is responsible for ensuring compliance with all relevant policies, procedures and standards by which the MPP operates and ensuring compliance will all applicable laws and regulations to the highest ethical standards.  Related legislation includes the Workers’ Compensation Act (the Act), Medical Panels Regulation, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and Health Information Act, and the Revised Statutes of Alberta (RSA) 2000. 

The MPC provides the Workers’ Compensation Board-Alberta (WCB) and Appeals Commission for Alberta Workers’ Compensation (Appeals Commission) with an impartial and independent decision-making process to resolve medical issues that affect a claimant’s right to compensation. 

Reporting to the Chief Appeals Commissioner the Medical Panels Commissioner is responsible for reporting back on medical panel progress and issues.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain a list of physicians interested in participating in medical panels.
• Ensure compliance to key pieces of legislation, including the Medical Panels Regulation.
• Report to the Chief Appeals Commissioner on key activities.
• Guide Registrar with the development and implementation of additional procedures relating to the establishment of medical panels.
• Assume all other responsibilities of the Medical Panels Commissioner as set out in the Act and the Medical Panels Regulation.
• Confirm with the Registrar the evaluation of the satisfaction of all participants in the medical panel process.

• Develop and maintain working relationships with stakeholders in the workers’ compensation system, the medical community, and other boards and agencies across Canada.
• Ensure medical panel processes are open, transparent, accountable and administratively fair.

Contacts include the Chief Appeals Commissioner and CEO, the Appeals Commission’s Chief Administrative Officer, the Workers’ Compensation Board, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, physicians, injured workers and other stakeholders in the workers’ compensation system.

Other contacts include boards and agencies both inter and intra provincially across Canada and associations and foundations involved in the administrative justice community.

Appointments are for a term of up to 3 years with eligibility for reappointment for additional terms.

Skills and Experience Required

You have health system experience (i.e. Physician, PHD, Health Administration or other health related experience etc..) and exceptional communication skills.  You bring a demonstrated record of fostering effective relationships within the community, supported with knowledge of applicable medical specialties and emerging medical issues. Preference may be given to those registered as a regulated member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.

Your background includes experience in consensus-based panel processes and governance practices, advanced analytical skills, and strengths in reviewing complex information and varying points of view.  You are a skilled communicator, recognized for a reputation of applying impartiality, objectiveness and sound judgment in managing complex and sensitive issues. With a track record of exercising sound and consistent judgment, you have demonstrated expertise in managing complex issues with integrity and fairness.

Some other key attributes the ideal candidate will have, include:

• Ability to demonstrate a neutral position on disputes and has the support and endorsement of both employer and worker groups.
• Ability to identify, integrate and analyze relevant information from a variety of sources.
• Strong understanding of workers’ compensation systems and operations.
• Strong understanding of government and intergovernmental relationships.
• Related experience communicating with lawyers, physicians, employers and workers.
• Proven ability to collaborate strategically with a wide variety of stakeholders to balance the needs and interests of these diverse groups.
• Exceptional verbal, written, listening and interpersonal communication skills.
• Track record of positively influencing others through facilitation, collaboration, consensus building and modeling, to achieve desired outcomes.
• Proactive problem solving and decision making abilities.
• Experienced in developing new approaches, and thinks critically to assess effectiveness of existing procedures.

Remuneration and Time Commitment

The Medical Panels Commissioner is a part-time contract position up to a 50% Full-Time Equivalent (FTE).  The appointment is recommended by the Minister of Labour and Immigration and made by an Order in Council approved by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, pursuant to the Workers’ Compensation Act.

Compensation for this position is currently under review.

Travel expenses will be paid in accordance with the Government of Alberta's Travel, Meal and Hospitality Expense Directive.

Office is located in Edmonton. Candidates should be available to travel throughout the province as required.

Position Profile

Please see the attached Position Profile for more information on this opportunity and a detailed list of responsibilities http://alberta.ca/public-agency-secretariat.cfm

Additional Documentation

In addition to your cover letter and resume, we require a biography. Click HERE to download the biography form.

Once the forms are completed, save them to your PC. When you click on submit application, you will be prompted to upload additional documents. Drag and drop or upload your completed biography form and others requested into the ‘Drop files below or click to upload’ section.

Contact Information

Executive Search, Alberta Public Service Commission

Phone: 780-408-8460

Email: [email protected]

How to Apply

Carefully read the Recruitment Posting and the Position Profile to ensure this is an appropriate opportunity for you.  Applicants are advised to provide information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements.

 Online applications are preferred. To apply, click on the “apply” button, create or sign into your account in the ePAAS system; upload your resume, view the listing under Current Opportunities and click on “submit application”. The uploaded resume will be automatically attached.

Provide a short 4 line biography using the Biography template found under additional documents section. Your biography should include your name, current work experience, board/committee experience and relevant education. Please note that biographies may be edited for length and clarity.

Once your biography and other required form(s) are completed, save it to your PC. When you hit 'submit application', you will be prompted to upload additional documents. Drag and drop (or upload) your completed cover letter, biography and other form(s) into the 'Drop files below or click to upload' section before clicking the “apply” button.

If you are unable to apply online, please submit a cover letter and resume, quoting the recruitment posting competition number, to the contact provided on the posting.

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to assess which candidates’ qualifications most closely match the agency’s requirements. Only those selected for interviews will be contacted to advance to the next step in the appointment process. You can check the status of each competition on-line at http://alberta.ca/public-agencies.cfm.

All potential candidates will be screened for potential conflicts of interest.

Please Note: Successful applicants will have the following information about them made publicly available on the Public Agency Secretariat Website: name, biography, public agency, and position title.

Agency Website: http://alberta.ca/public-agencies.cfm

Enabling Legislation: Workers' Compensation Act