Recruiting Anesthesiologists in Comox Valley, BC
October 21, 2021
Are you an anesthesiologist looking for a new adventure – a place that has it all? We might have your next opportunity. The Comox Valley is a breathtaking place on Vancouver Island. If the scenery doesn’t capture you alone, then the plethora of available activities will.
The summers invite you to kayak, swim without a wetsuit, boat, and hike. You will also have Strathcona Park – the largest park on Vancouver Island! – located 30 minutes away, an excellent destination for both hiking and camping. You can explore mountain biking, road/gravel cycling, hiking, golfing, and much more in the fall and spring. Other exciting activities include short road trips to the neighboring hot destinations, such as Tofino and Ucluelet for surfing (3 hours), Victoria (3 hours), Vancouver (5 hours by car/ferry), and Whistler (6 hours by car/ferry). In winter, reach Mt. Washington Alpine Resort for some excellent skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling, located only 30 minutes away. Fancy going a little further for a different experience? Mount Cain is only 2.5 hours away and offers the “best ski area you have never heard of,” according to the 2016 documentary,
Frozen In Time.
If this lifestyle aligns with you, consider joining The Comox Valley Hospital’s team of six FRCP anesthesiologists. This team is looking to expand, and they also have a colleague approaching retirement. According to the head of the department, Dr. Mike Atherstone, they “prioritize affability, strong clinical skills and those candidates who value a good work-life balance.” They also seek persons with recent Pediatrics and Obstetrics experience (over two years) but are happy to work with you to update these skills.
Support is both important and valued, and you will find it both within the team itself and with state-of-the-art equipment. The surgical colleagues and OR nurses are “strong and collaborative,” says Dr. Atherstone, and “the OR work environment is relaxed and collegial with an emphasis on providing safe and effective patient care [and] our recovery room and pre-assessment staff are superb.” He also mentions that they are blessed to have two excellent anesthesia assistants who work four on four off, providing them with coverage from 7 am to 7 pm, seven days a week.
The Comox Valley Hospital is a modern 2018 community hospital. It has the capacity for 154 beds and resources to run five of six operating rooms. “The operating rooms are enormous and bright with modern equipment including Draeger Zeus Anesthesia Machines, Glidescopes, computer work stations in every room, and access to two U/S machines,” says Atherstone.
When it comes down to remuneration for anesthesiologists, BC is becoming more and more competitive. Successful candidates can expect a signing bonus, travel expenses for site visits, as well as moving expenses. There is a 6.93% premium added to all billing for working in a rural site and a yearly bonus of
$6000. You will also receive a CME allowance that tops out at $6000 after three years. Dr. Atherstone ads that they are “in the process of negotiating an alternative payment plan that will guarantee a generous daily income, as well as call hours” and, are working to make their site “extremely competitive.” He continues by saying that they are working to help offset travel and accommodation expenses for locums.
Does relocating to Comox Valley pique your interest? We invite you to reach out to physician recruitment to get in touch with Dr. Atherstone to discuss this role further and pose any questions you may have.
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All images courtesy of Island Health