Position Overview

Covenant Health is recruiting independently licensed physicians to join the Orthopedic Surgical Care Team at Misericordia Community Hospital (MCH) as Surgical Hospitalists.

This role supports a co‑management model of care in which the Orthopedic Surgeon remains the Most Responsible Provider (MRP) for surgical issues, while the Surgical Hospitalist provides independent medical management within their scope of practice. This position plays a critical role in optimizing peri‑operative care, patient flow, and overall outcomes for orthopedic inpatients.

While the primary focus is Orthopedic Services, physicians may be required to provide urgent or emergent medical coverage to Plastic Surgery and Urology patients during after‑hours periods when alternate medical coverage is unavailable.

Clinical Services and Setting

Surgical Services at Misericordia Community Hospital include:

• Orthopedic inpatient care
• Emergency Department consults and admissions
• Day Surgery and Cast Clinic support
• Cross‑coverage to other inpatient wards as required

Hours of Coverage (On‑Site)

• Weekdays (Monday–Friday):
  • 07:00–19:00
  • 19:00–07:00
• Weekends & Statutory Holidays:
  • 07:00–19:00
  • 19:00–07:00

Scheduling is flexible and aligned with physician availability.

About the Role

The Surgical Hospitalist provides comprehensive medical care for admitted orthopedic surgical patients—both elective and emergent. This role leads the day‑to‑day medical management of surgical inpatients, supports timely diagnostics and discharge planning, and works in close collaboration with surgeons, nursing, and allied health teams.

This is an ideal opportunity for a physician who:

• Thrives in acute inpatient medicine
• Enjoys collaborative, team‑based practice
• Values flexible scheduling
• Is motivated to help shape and refine an evolving model of surgical care

Key Responsibilities

• Perform daily patient rounds, including medication reconciliation and medical assessment
• Manage medical conditions for patients admitted under the Orthopedic Service
• Support optimization of new admissions to prevent delays to surgical care
• Coordinate care with interdisciplinary team members, patients, and families
• Participate in discharge planning and transitions of care
• Provide surgical assistance in the absence of a surgical assistant, as required
• Cover available additional shifts when needed to support service delivery

Why Join Covenant Health?

• Be part of innovative change in orthopedic surgical service delivery
• Flexible, predictable scheduling aligned with your availability
• Meaningful responsibility as the key medical provider for surgical patients
• Opportunity to influence patient flow, care quality, and system efficiency
• Join a service at a pivotal stage and help shape its future growth

Competitive remuneration with choice of ARP or FFS models

Compensation

Physicians may choose either remuneration model:

1. Clinical Alternate Relationship Plan (ARP)

• Hourly model, based on hours worked
• Full‑time equivalent (1.0 FTE / 1,928 hours annually):
  • Gross annual compensation: $444,645
• Premiums (in addition to base rate):
  • Evenings / Weekends / Holidays: $89.64/hour
  • Nights: $183.08/hour

Note: above premiums are applicable modifiers only billable during service hours.

2. Fee‑For‑Service (FFS)

• Standard FFS billing, including applicable after‑hours premiums as outlined above

Required Qualifications

• MD or equivalent
• Licensed or eligible for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA)
• Certification with the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP)
• Eligible to participate as a General Practitioner (“GP” skill code) under AHCIP
• ACLS certification
• Current experience in:
  • Acute care inpatient medicine and/or
  • Emergency Department clinical practice
• Demonstrated commitment to:
  • High‑quality patient care and safety
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
  • Just Culture principles in healthcare