Position Summary

Alberta Health Services (AHS) invites applications for Internal medicine Practitioners to join the Edmonton Zone Virtual Home Hospital (EZVHH) Program, a transformative model of care. The GIM specialists for the EZVHH play a pivotal role in delivering acute care in the home setting, enabled by technology and supported by a multidisciplinary team. This innovative model of care aligns with AHS’s vision of person-centered, community-delivered, technology-enabled, and integrated care across the continuum. The goals of the program are  :1-Provide safe, hospital-level acute care in patients' homes through a combination of virtual and in-person care.  2-Reduce unnecessary hospital admissions, readmissions and enable earlier discharge from hospital.  3-Increase healthcare system capacity by freeing up acute care beds for patients who require in-hospital treatment.  4-Improve patient and family experience by allowing people to recover in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes.

 More information regarding EZVHH can be found here Edmonton Zone Virtual Home Hospital.

The GIM practitioners will serve as the Most Responsible Physician (MRP) for medical patients deemed appropriate for EZVHH. Physicians participate in virtual rounds, proactive management, and timely care escalation where required.

Key Accountabilities/Deliverables

1.       Provide services to the EZVHH’s 24/7/365 care model in 7-day blocks with 10 hours/day availability plus on-call.

2.       Abide by all relevant Alberta Health Services (AHS) established policies, rules, procedures and directive application to the Service.

3.       Provide Acute Hospital-Level Care at Home that includes but is not limited to:

•         Assess EZVHH consults/referrals from across the Edmonton Zone and determine patient suitability for acute care at home against defined program criteria.

•         Provide daily virtual assessments (phone & video) and develop individualized plan of care dictated by their medical concerns.

•         Adjust treatment plans based on lab results, patient symptoms, and team input.

•         Facilitate care coordination with the EZVHH multidisciplinary team comprised of Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Pharmacists, and Unit Clerk.

•         Coordinate with community paramedics and home care for in-home assessments and interventions.

•         Participate in interdisciplinary virtual rounds and communicate clearly with patients, families, and other providers.

•         Review and adjust medications based on clinical status and lab results.

•         Educate patients and caregivers on medication use and symptom monitoring.

•         Monitor clinical status through remote technology and multidisciplinary team updates.

•         Oversee and respond to clinical alerts or events flagged by paramedics, pharmacists, or nursing staff.

•         Contribute to continuous quality improvement and support the growth of virtual care pathways for medical patients.

•         Engage with primary care providers to co-create integrated care plans.

•         Ensure continuity of care post-discharge and support primary care reattachment.

•         Ensure timely documentation including admission notes, progress notes, discharge summaries, and handover communication, and adhere to all documentation standards.

4.       Attend EZVHH program meetings as required.

5.       Report to the EZVHH Medical Director and/or Department of Medicine. .

Technology & Tools:

• Remote monitoring kits for vitals, incision images, and virtual exams
• Zoom platform for patient and team visits
• Connect Care (virtual home hospital charting & communication)

Working Conditions:

• Flexible, home-based virtual service model
• On-call model with expectation of timely responses to patient care needs
• Collaboration across multiple teams across the care continuum

Qualifications

•         MD with internal medicine designation and an active license with CPSA.

•         Experience in Internal Medicine inpatient care outpatient clinical practice, or virtual care preferred.

•         Strong interpersonal, communication, collaboration, and adaptability skills.

•         Comfortable managing multiple comorbid patients, acute care issues, and coordinating multi-provider input.

•         Competent with virtual care delivery models, collaborating with virtual teams, and use of remote technologies.

•         Experience or interest in health system transformation, patient safety, and interdisciplinary practice is an asset.

Application

To apply, please forward a copy of your curriculum vitae, CPSA Practice Permit and a letter of interest. Applications meeting the requirements outlined in this notice will be forwarded to the Search and Select Committee and will begin being reviewed immediately. We thank all applicants for their interest; only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted. The competition will remain open until the positions are filled.

Alberta Health Services is committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women; First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons; members of visible minority groups; persons with disabilities; persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression; and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas to apply.