Family Practice Opportunities at Interior Health Authority

In-person Nelson, BC (with some travel to Castlegar)

Some home-based virtual care.

Position

• 6 to 1.0 FTE (to be negotiated)

Compensation

The position is based on the Longitudinal Family Practice (LFP) payment model with billing to MSP.

Bring your clinical expertise and passion for providing quality, compassionate care to a challenging and rewarding role as a Family Physician, Primary Care Network in a community-based access clinic supporting the Kootenay Boundary region of BC. The KB Access clinic was launched in 2025 serving the entire region to fill gaps in care with a mix of virtual and in-clinic appointments. The practice operates with a group of physicians, Nurse Practitioner, and an RN backed by an administrative team. This is a shared practice with the patients supported by the group with a mix of attached and unattached patients being seen by the on-shift practitioners. You will take on a panel of patients pro-rated according to FTE as well as contribute to the group practice.

The access clinic is part of the Kootenay Boundary Primary Care Network (KB PCN), which is a partnership between the Ministry of Health, Interior Health, the Kootenay Boundary Division of Family Practice, and Aboriginal Partners. All aspects of the clinic will be aligned with delivery of culturally competent care.

The FP will submit billing based on production (direct hours while seeing patients and indirect administrative hours) according to the LFP payment schedule as per the Medical Services Plan. The FP will enter into a Practice Agreement and make overhead payments (to be negotiated) to Prima Health Co-operative, a community based not for profit cooperative managing primary care clinics with services in different locations across the Kootenay Boundary. Overhead costs are based on actual monthly expenses for clinical operations shared by the group (past year average <30%).

The Family Physician, Primary Care Network, will practice autonomously and interdependently as part of a cohesive team where each provider has their own unique role and scope in the provision of patient care. The Family Physician will work in partnership with a group of Family Physicians and the clinic’s Medical Director to provide clinical care and ensure full coverage to clinic patients.

The Family Physician Will Deliver The Full Scope Of Primary Health Care Services For Their Panel Of Patients In Collaboration With The Group (panel Is Pro-rated For FTE And The Current Panel Is ~600) Including But Not Limited To

Health promotion and illness prevention services;

Primary care for minor or episodic illnesses;

Chronic disease management;

Management and coordination of patient care across the spectrum of care (i.e. referral to specialists and other providers, case management, case conferences and acting upon consultative advice);

Primary reproductive care;

Cultural safe care for all patients but especially aboriginal patients;

Primary mental health and substance use (MHSU) services;

Support for the terminally ill;

Coordination and access to rehabilitation;

Multidisciplinary team planning for the ongoing health needs of patients.

Skills

The ideal candidate is a self-motivated practitioner who takes initiative, is flexible and comfortable with ambiguity, and has the following skills and experience:

Current provisional/practicing registration as a Family Physician with the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons;

Relevant clinical experience, including clinical knowledge and real passion for providing quality, compassionate care to motivate and inspire others.;

Strong understanding of provision of culturally safe care for patients;

High degree of comfort with virtual health care;

Interest in and ability to thrive in a role in a blended in-person and virtual setting, including: Working collaboratively as part of a high performing, interdisciplinary team to deliver team-based care;

Participate in the growth of a new clinic (e.g., supporting the development of efficient clinic systems and processes, a cohesive team, etc.);

Strong self management skills; Comfortable working independently

Expectation and ability to: Scheduled travel monthly or biweekly to Castlegar to provide clinical in-person care as negotiated;

Provide virtual care remotely from a home office;

Work evening and weekend shifts as a part of a rotating schedule to be determined with the candidate;

Experience working with populations that have difficulty accessing primary care through traditional means, with a strong network of local and community agencies and resources.

Candidates must have a reliable phone service and stable high-speed internet capable of supporting video meetings and multiple cloud-based applications without delays. They must also have a private, confidential workspace suitable for virtual meetings and the secure handling of sensitive information.

Access Clinic Description

The KB Access Clinic stabilizes care by offering a hybrid model of virtual and in-person services for unattached patients across the Kootenay Boundary. The clinic is supported by a dedicated core team, including a medical director, full-time family physician (FP), a full-time medical office assistant (MOA), a NP, and a group of physicians creating a sustainable model of care.

What Patients Experience

Access to Primary Care: All appointments are provided by local physicians and nurse practitioners. Their appointment will be with the family practitioner on shift that day, and focus on their top health concern. This helps us serve the many patients in our region without a primary care provider.

In-Person & Virtual Appointment Options: We offer virtual & in-person care. Virtual visits are available to patients across Kootenay Boundary. In-person visits are available in Nelson and Castlegar.

A New & Growing Service: We’re committed to quality care and continuous improvement. We appreciate the patience and support we have had as we refine this service.

Due to the variation in patient complexity, practitioners average 3-5 patients per hour. Being a locally based service with local providers, we have robust mechanisms in place to facilitate care for patients who require continuity of care, ensuring a seamless transition while accommodating the diverse needs of our patient population. The clinicians will be working closely with other Prima services and will be able to refer patients to other streams of PCN services as needed to allow for maximum access for care.

This initiative, supported by the Prima Health Cooperative and other partners, ensures that our community receives the primary care it urgently needs while providing a positive and sustainable working environment for healthcare practitioners.

About Nelson, BC

Nelson offers wonderful opportunities for outdoor recreation and year-round fun. Aside from swimming, fishing, boating and other summer activities, the city of Nelson lies in the heart of a winter playground. Ski, snowboard, cross country ski, snowmobile or enjoy brisk walks in this four-season paradise!

Perched on the shores of Kootenay Lake in the heart of the Selkirk Mountains, Nelson sets itself apart by offering a rare blend of outdoor adventure and cosmopolitan sophistication of arts and heritage. Downtown is lush with gardens, boutiques, and unique restaurants that offer a social feeling of big city life in a classic Victorian setting. The summer creates a mecca for hiking, golfing, and water sports while the abundant winter snow transforms the terrain at Whitewater Resort for world-class skiing and winter adventures. Come to Nelson and let the storybook charm and community welcome you.

For additional information about this position, please contact Mona Mattei, Kootenay Boundary Division of Family Practice. Background information on the KB Primary Care Networks is also available.