Emergency Physician Resource Team Overview
The Emergency Physician Resource Team (EPRT) provides short-term physician coverage to high-need hospitals to keep Emergency Departments open and accessible to communities while permanent physician recruitment and other options for local coverage are pursued.
The program leverages existing provincial capacity, engaging Emergency Physicians from across British Columbia who can fulfill commitments to hospitals where they regularly work while devoting additional time to assisting other high-need locations. Physicians with appropriate licenses and qualifications who normally live and work outside of B.C. may participate as well.
The EPRT provides an avenue for participating physicians to make a real difference for communities in need. Physicians gain access to exciting work opportunities in diverse environments and are compensated for their flexibility and willingness to work where they are needed on dates they commit to in advance.
Eligibility for the EPRT program requires:
- Have an active BC License
- Certified as CCFP (EM) or FRCPC EM
- Holds a Provisional or Active staff position in at least one HA (if a resident of BC). This generally means being in a full-time/permanent role and indicates that the member has been with the HA for a significant period. This also means that they have undergone routine evaluations through reappointment and/or a multi-source review to qualify for promotion to Active status.
*Please note you do not need to be a resident of BC to qualify for the EPRT program.
Refer to our Compensation and Travel and Frequently Asked Questions pages for more information or send an email to ecbc.eprt@phsa.ca, and a member of the EPRT team will get right back to you.
Interested in joining the EPRT?
Click here to beginQualifications
Currently, the EPRT is recruiting physicians who have an emergency medicine designation through the Canadian College of Family Physicians (CCFP-EM) or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCPC-EM).
You must be registered and in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC and be willing and able to work at any Emergency Department in the province.
Scheduling
EPRT scheduling occurs in two phases. First, the program and a participating physician agree on and commit to a set of specific days on which a physician may be asked to work or travel. These are collectively referred to as Committed Assignments.
The program then consults with health authorities to determine the details of each Committed Assignment. Assignment details include the hospital(s) and specific shift start and end times the physician will be asked to work.
EPRT program staff will strive to provide Assignment details with as much notice as possible but no later than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the date and time on which the assignment is scheduled to begin.
Privileges
EPRT staff will provide administrative support to help you obtain privileges needed to complete your Committed Assignments under the program. We are working closely with regional health authorities to ensure that processes are streamlined to minimize the burden on participating physicians.
Availability Agreement
Physicians participating in the EPRT will be asked to sign an Availability Agreement that formally describes the relationship between the program and the physician and the responsibilities of each party. It also sets out the compensation framework under which the physician will be paid.
