Physician Assistant - Substance Use Services

The University Health Network, where "above all else the needs of patients come first", encompasses Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, West Park and the Michener Institute of Education. The breadth of research, the complexity of the cases treated, and the magnitude of its educational enterprise has made UHN a national and international resource for patient care, research and education. With a long tradition of groundbreaking firsts and a purpose of "Transforming lives and communities through excellence in care, discovery and learning", the University Health Network (UHN), Canada's largest research teaching hospital, brings together over 16,000 employees, more than 1,200 physicians, 8,000+ students, and many volunteers. UHN is a caring, creative place where amazing people are amazing the world.

Union: Non-Union
Site: Toronto Western Hospital
Department: Center for Mental Health
Work Model: On-Site
Reports to: Physician
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Salary: $49.57- $61.96 per hour
Shifts: Weekdays; Monday - Friday
Status: Permanent Full-Time
Closing Date: November 10, 2024

Working under the direction of the supervising physician and in accordance with the delegated medical act, the Physician Assistant (PA) will work alongside a multidisciplinary team supporting UHN's Substance Use Services (SUS). Here, the PA will focus on helping patients and medical teams at UHN by addressing the complex medical, psychological and social needs of individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) across the continuum of care - from emergency department encounters to inpatient/surgical wards, to ensure a smooth transition into outpatient services and community-based care. Specifically, the PA will play a key role in: 1) Improving access and quality of care to patients with SUD at Toronto Western Hospital; and 2) Expansion of UHN's Substance Use Intervention Team (SUIT) - UHN's Addictions Consult Service which consists of 13 physicians - from Toronto Western Hospital to Toronto General Hospital. The principal responsibilities of the PA may include but are not limited to:

• Working 37.5 hours a week, with standard service hours from 9:00AM to 5:00PM schedule anticipated or alternate as agreed upon.
• Clinical Duties: Providing daily Substance Use medical advice on 6-8 patients daily; conducting patient interviews; taking medical histories; performing physical examinations; ordering and interpreting tests; diagnosing and treating illness; performing therapeutic or diagnostic procedures, providing medical orders and prescriptions; and counseling on preventative health care, while communicating with medical and clinical teams.
• Administrative Support: Support the completion of required documentation and coordination of care.
• Team-based Care: This individual will work closely with other members of the SUIT service (including the supervising addiction medicine physician and allied health professionals), as well as members of the consulting care team, (including emergency/medical/surgical physicians, residents, and medical students and allied health professionals) and administrators to ensure medical and substance use needs of the patient are met. In particular, the PA will be responsible for liaising with our clinical operations team to ensure alignment and communication between our medical and clinical operations teams.
• Location: This individual will work at both Toronto Western Hospital and Toronto General Hospital; as SUIT expands, a gradual focus will be placed on working predominately out of Toronto General Hospital.
• Reporting to: Medical Lead, Substance Use Services and other supervising physicians and/or delegates.

• 2024 Graduate of the McMaster or Consortium Physician Assistant Program and must be eligible for certification through the Physician Assistant Certification Council of Canada.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and with respect in an oral and written format with patients, public, colleagues and other health disciplines
• Demonstrated ability to perform complete and appropriate clinical assessment and development of a treatment plan in accordance with medical directives
• Proficient and appropriate use of diagnostic and procedural skills
• Demonstrated effective problem solving and critical thinking skills
• Demonstrated and proven ability to work in a collaborative care model with all members of the health care team
• Demonstrated commitment to patient safety
• Demonstrated ability to apply basic computer skills
• Asset: Demonstrated experience in the field of substance use disorders

Why join UHN?

In addition to working alongside some of the most talented and inspiring healthcare professionals in the world, UHN offers a wide range of benefits, programs and perks. It is the comprehensiveness of these offerings that makes it a differentiating factor, allowing you to find value where it matters most to you, now and throughout your career at UHN.

• Competitive offer packages
• Government organization and a member of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP https://hoopp.com/)
• Close access to Transit and UHN shuttle service
• A flexible work environment
• Opportunities for development and promotions within a large organization
• Additional perks (multiple corporate discounts including: travel, restaurants, parking, phone plans, auto insurance discounts, on-site gyms, etc.)

Current UHN employees must have successfully completed their probationary period, have a good employee record along with satisfactory attendance in accordance with UHN's attendance management program, to be eligible for consideration.

All applications must be submitted before the posting close date.

UHN uses email to communicate with selected candidates. Please ensure you check your email regularly.

Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Should it be determined that any information provided by a candidate be misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, UHN reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of their application.

UHN is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive recruitment process and workplace. Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process. Applicants need to make their requirements known.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.