Family Practitioner

Position Summary

Northern Health, in collaboration with the Hazelton Primary Care Network, is seeking a Family Physician to provide Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) and comprehensive primary care services in Hazelton, BC. This is a 0.5 FTE position, equivalent to approximately 840–1,050 hours per year.

• Provide maintenance OAT care for approximately 20 patients per month, including initiations and inpatient OAT consultations as clinically required.
• Maintain a minimum patient panel of 325 patients.
• There is no requirement to act as Most Responsible Provider (MRP) for hospitalized patients.
• No on‑call or emergency department responsibilities are required in this role.

This role is exceptionally well supported by an interdisciplinary team that includes:

• Community mental health and substance use support workers
• Registered nurses
• Social services professionals

An experienced Hazelton‑based clinician will provide mentorship and support to ensure a smooth transition into the role. The medical staff invite you to explore the context of their practice in the beautiful Upper Skeena (). Get a sense of the group’s spirit and connectedness by visiting the Hazelton Rural Medicine Instagram account: s.

• Curious about and committed to working in partnership with Indigenous peoples.
• Enjoys collaborative, interprofessional practice in a rural setting.
• Comfortable practicing at a distance from tertiary specialist services and advanced imaging.
• Strong communication skills and effective collaboration with local and remote colleagues using digital health technologies.
• Experience and familiarity with substance use treatment in rural and remote settings.
• Experience with team‑based OAT provision and has completed the Provincial Opioid Addictions Treatment Support Program.
• Brings a person‑centred approach that reflects the full continuum of substance use care, including harm reduction, withdrawal management, and recovery‑oriented services.
• Hold current ACLS and ATLS certification (PALS preferred).
• Completed Indigenous Cultural Safety training.

• Turnkey practice opportunity – no lease, buy‑in, or independent staff hiring.
• Salaried compensation – no fee‑for‑service billing.
• No overhead costs – the clinic is operated by Northern Health, with a clinic coordinator, administrative coordinator, and an experienced team of MOAs employed by NHA.
• Flexible work arrangements designed to support work‑life balance and long‑term sustainability for the entire group.
• Housing support – newly recruited physicians may apply for up to three months of temporary housing through Northern Health to support relocation. Housing may accommodate families and/or pets, subject to availability.

The Wrinch Medical Staff are a highly collaborative, inclusive team committed to delivering high quality, culturally safe care. They value empathy, humour, kindness, and a strong sense of connection both with each other and with the community they serve. The team provides full‑scope medical care to the region and currently includes:

• 10 Family Physicians (working toward 9.5 FTE through a provider partnership model)
• 1 GP Anesthetist (ideally expanding to
  2)
• 3 Nurse Practitioners
• 3 Registered Midwives

In Spring 2020, Family Physicians and Nurse Practitioners implemented a Provider Partnership Model, pairing part‑time Family Physicians together. Each clinician maintains their own patient panel; however, when one partner is away, the other covers results and inpatients. This arrangement allows clinicians to be fully off work when desired and has significantly improved:

• Continuity of care
• Clinic efficiency
• Patient access

Teaching is a time‑honored tradition in Hazelton. There is an ongoing rotation of medical students, nurse practitioner students, midwifery students, and medical residents. Many clinicians also conduct outreach clinics once a week as guests at the community health centres (Sik‑E‑Dakh, Anspayaxw, Gitsegukla, Gitwangak, Gitanyow). Learners will often be scheduled to accompany their preceptors for these clinics.