Area Department Lead, Family Medicine, Saskatoon

Job Description

Health networks are being developed in Saskatchewan to ensure our patients get the right care at the right time from the right health care provider, as close to home as possible.

Heath networks are a collaborative of health professionals, including physicians and community partners, providing fully integrated services to meet the health needs of individuals and communities. Health Networks exist within a small, defined geography. They aim to deliver health care services closest to where the patient lives and works. The focus is on the needs of individuals and communities to bring patient and health care services they need, to where they need them. By integrating team-based community and primary health care throughout Saskatchewan, health networks will work to reduce the likelihood of citizens needing acute care, and strengthen the transition back to primary or home care from the hospital by embracing a team approach.

The Area Department Lead, Family Medicine, Saskatoon is a key leader in Saskatchewan health care, partnering with system leaders to achieve our province’s health care goals. Reporting to the Area Chief of Staff and supporting the work of the respective Physician Executive/Vice-President and the Provincial Head, this position works closely with the and Health System Colleagues in the development and achievement of strategy by articulating gaps and needs. The Area Department Lead supports strategy through the development and execution of operational and business plans, including cascading, monitoring, reporting, and course correction of same.

The Area Department Lead demonstrates strong leadership to enable an innovative and positive working climate and a client-centric culture. The Area Department Lead must work cross functionally within the portfolio and across the organization to support operations. The Area Department Lead will develop partnerships and work closely with system and community partners.

The primary purpose of the Area Department Lead is to provide leadership necessary to ensure the seamless integration of the academic activities, quality improvement initiatives and clinical standards direction of the provincial department and that the appropriate operational standards are incorporated into the daily work performed within the Area. The Area Department Lead provides support to the Area Chief of Staff in matters related to credentialing, privileging and management of practitioner staff reviews according to Provincial Bylaws. The Area Department Lead provides support to the Provincial Head to fulfill the provincial mission and responsibilities of the Department as a whole.

The Area Department Lead will work in partnership with the Area Administrative Structure and in consultation with members of the department, in all matters relating to the operational plan for the delivery of high quality clinical services consistent with the strategic needs of the area, including workforce planning, development of in support of development of patient value streams, and in keeping with the overall strategic plan for the SHA. The Area Department Lead works in a team-based approach for care delivery with the Executive Director. Together they will co-lead the overall planning, programming, strategic direction and operational oversight for primary health care services within a grouping of Health Networks.

Five Health Networks have been established in Saskatoon, (Saskatoon 1-North, Saskatoon 2-East, Saskatoon 3-West, Saskatoon 4-South, Saskatoon 5-Core/Downtown) with an Area Division Lead-Family Medicine position in place for each network, directly reporting to the Area Department Lead-Family Medicine. In addition, a Division Lead is in place for Family Medicine Obstetrics, Family Medicine Newborn Nursery and Long Term Care. These three Division Leads also report directly to the Area Department Lead- Family Medicine. The Medical Director of Palliative Care also has a close working relationship with the Department of Family Medicine and advises the Area Department Lead-Family Medicine of information pertinent to the Department.

With the Provincial Head, and in concert with the College of Medicine, the Area Department Lead will ensure that the academic mandate of the College of Medicine for teaching and research is supported within the Area.

Job Qualifications

• Licensed medical practitioner in good standing with the
• Canadian Certified Physician Executive Credential would be an asset
• Advanced education in Health Care Administration, Public Administration and/or Leadership Studies would be an asset
• Participation in the Canadian Medical Association’s Physician Leadership Institute would be an asset
• Additional training and/or education in leadership/management would be an asset
• Valid Class 5 driver's license

Preferred Experience

• Experience, at an operational level, as a medical leader who has worked in partnership with administrative leaders to develop innovative programs in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment
• 5+ years in a leadership position with progressive advancement
• Has knowledge of and experience in guiding health quality improvement processes and initiatives