Inuvik Weblog

We Need GPA, GPS and GP Physicians

The Inuvik Regional Hospital (IRH) has unique opportunities for challenging and adventurous rural/remote medicine.  We are an accredited and teaching facility with residents and students form across Canada and the rest of the world. In Canada’s most northern hospital, well above the Arctic Circle, we offer comprehensive medical services through a team approach to approximately 9,000 residents within the Beaufort Delta region.  The IRH provides a diversity of practice unmatched in Canada.  We deliver inpatient, outpatient, surgical, obstetrical, pediatric and medevac services in Inuvik and seven smaller, more remote aboriginal communities (nearest 60 km; farthest 669 km). Health Centres in these communities are staffed by primary care nurses.

Experience medicine as it should be and hone your skills.  Work with seasoned northern medical veterans with excellent local and specialist backup.  Monthly community visits, medevacs and enjoyment of the summer and winter recreational opportunities are all part of the experience in this, the REAL Canada.  Excellent short and long term remuneration and benefits (amongst the best in Canada). 

The IRH has unique opportunities for physicians seeking new challenges as a permanent salaried physician or locum staff.  Our full complement is a medical staff of 9 physicians. This comprises a mix of GP surgeons, GP anesthetists and GPs as well as a surgeon or ob/gyn locum on staff.

Candidates must be licensed to practice medicine in the Canada.

Please phone, write or email for further information and a list of physicians who have discovered the tremendous rewards of working in Inuvik. Also click on the JOBS & FAQ in the sidebar.

Braam de Klerk
Medical Director
Beaufort Delta Health and Social Services Authority
Bag Services # 2
Inuvik, NT
X0E 0T0

PH (867) 777-8108
FX (867) 777-8191
email: tracey_romkey@gov.nt.ca
email: polardoc@northwestel.net

Changes ...

Chief of Staff, Cameron MacLeod, is moving on to greener pastures (at least, that's what he thinks!) and we're sad to say good bye to him, Natalie, Emily and Maeve.

Cam first came to Inuvik as a UBC resident and despite the mistreatment and hard work he had to endure, he returned to do a locum and then joined the permanent staff after the birth of Emily. Maeve was born here in Inuvik. They will be missed by the staff and the people of Inuvik and Sachs Harbour (the community Cam visited every 5 weeks.)

Mike Mulherin (who tried the greener pastures - and decided to give Inuvik another chance ) will take over as Chief Of Staff.

First Laparoscopic Cholecystectomies in the New Hospital

In November 2006 doctors Angus Maciver (surgeon) and Dennis Moore (anesthetist) with some able help from Jennifer Pierce and Alison Maciver, performed the first four laparoscopic cholecystectomies in the new hospital. Although we have been doing look-and-see laparoscopies as well as gynecological laparoscopies, these were the first surgical laparoscopies done in the new hospital.

Mulherins are home!

Mike, Kathleen and their three sons returned to Inuvik in September 2006 to the great joy of many patients, friends and colleagues. Welcome back!

Premier's Award for Excellence

On Friday July 14, 2006 the Hon. Floyd Roland, Deputy Premier of the Northwest Territories, presented the Premier's Award for Excellence to dr. Braam de Klerk. Staff of the Inuvik Regional Hospital gathered for a short ceremony to celebrate the occasion.

 

Physician Recruiter

Tracey Romkey, the new phsycian recruiter and assistant to the medical director, started working for BDHSSA in  June 2006.

Why Practice Family Medicine in Inuvik

Working for the Beaufort-Delta Health and Social Services Authority and serving the vast MacKenzie River Delta as a physician can challenge and delight doctors interested in all-encompassing medical practice.  Truly the “cradle-to-the-grave” sort of practice is what we do.  We have plenty of variety:  delivering babies and handling up to moderate risk obstetrics, in consultation with on-the-ground obstetrical locum colleagues and/or the specialists in Yellowknife or Edmonton as needed.  In addition, we have a moderately busy Emergency Room with plenty of “real medicine” – cardiac, hepatic and renal pathology, trauma, medevacs, orthopedics and paediatrics.  We staff two family practice clinics and rotate through all these services.  At times we see conditions rarely seen in southern Canada such as botulism, rabies and tuberculosis.  Everyone becomes involved in public health issues.  Some of us take an interest and become involved with elder/chronic care and palliative care as the occasions arise.  Clinics in the seven outlying communities we serve provide further challenges and interest.  There, family doctors act as consultants to the outpost nurses, seeing difficult cases, sorting out medications, organizing referrals and providing some continuing education to the nurses who work in these challenging positions.  Best of all, we have a team of physicians in the best sense of the word – we support each other, cover each other, and share our opinions and expertise freely.  It makes practicing medicine “at the end of the road” less daunting!

Besides the very interesting and challenging medicine, it is indeed an honour and a privilege to work with the amazing mix of first nations and other people from around the world who call Inuvik home.  Hearing the stories of elders who were born and raised “on the land”, being included in community feasts and learning about the challenges some of our new Canadians from the middle east, Asia or Africa have faced all enrich our lives here in this corner of the Northwest Territories.  Medically, if you stay awhile, you begin to know which families are at risk for certain cancers, or for rheumatoid arthritis, for example.

The land itself here has a magic all its own – northern lights which dance as you return from a late-night call in winter, the wonder of the midnight sun in summer and the Richardson mountains on the horizon.  On a work trip to a settlement you may marvel at summer flowers far above the treeline on an evening walk with a local nurse, be invited for a boat or snow mobile ride on the mighty MacKenzie or on the sea ice at Tuktoyaktuk or be invited for tea and bannock with an elder.

All in all, it is likely to be the experience of a lifetime to come north to live and work.  Many of us came for a locum or moved up for a year and have stayed well past our planned departure.

Come join us!

submitted by Leah Seaman, Inuvik family doc