Emergency Medicine Specialist (Medical Specialist)

Overview

As a member of the military, Emergency Medicine Specialists (FRCPC(EM)) are certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and belong to the Medical Specialist occupation in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). They provide specialized urgent and emergent resuscitative care in both pre-hospital and hospital environments for Canadian Forces Health Services on domestic and international operations. They have the opportunity to be a leader within the CAF Health Services and serve as mentor and educator to the full spectrum of military health care providers. Their primary responsibilities include:

• Being part of multidisciplinary emergency resuscitation teams in deployed settings, both in Canada and internationally;
• As a member of specialized Forward Air Evacuation teams, providing in-transport care for injured or ill CAF members during evacuation;
• Educating and mentoring other providers in emergency medicine and advising on best practices in resuscitation care;
• Maintaining a high level of clinical skills by holding a position within a civilian health care facility that meets approved CAF requirements;
• Contributing to the development and application of health care policies within the CAF.

Work environment

Emergency Medicine Specialists in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) maintain their clinical readiness by being embedded as clinical staff in larger academic civilian hospitals across Canada, working alongside their civilian colleagues. In addition to primary clinical duties, participation in education and research is encouraged. They belong to 1 Canadian Field Hospital and maintain their operational readiness by participating in annual military skills training and field exercises. When required, they will be called upon to deploy to unique and challenging clinical environments as part of a Health Services team on domestic and international operations.

Entry plans

• Direct Entry Options

If you are certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Emergency Medicine and have an unrestricted licence to practise in Emergency Medicine in a Canadian province or territory, you may be eligible for enrolment and to commence basic training. To find out more information or to apply to the CAF as an Emergency Medicine Specialist you can contact our recruiters at: ***email_hidden***. Please indicate in the subject line of your e-mail: MEDICAL SPECIALIST

Training

After enrolment, you will begin 6 weeks of Basic Military Officer Qualification training (BMOQ) at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Topics covered include general military knowledge, the principles of leadership, regulations and customs of the Forces, basic weapons handling, field training, navigation and first aid. A rigorous physical fitness program is also a vital part of basic training. Opportunities will be provided to participate in training exercises and lead small group tasks to apply your newly acquired military skills. Basic officer training is provided in English or French and successful completion is a prerequisite for further training.

Incoming Medical Specialists in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will attend the Rank Qualification Medical Specialist Major (RQ-Med Spec-Maj) course delivered by the Canadian Forces Health Services Training Centre (CFHSTC). Consisting of an online asynchronous distributed learning (approximately 20 hours) and a five-day residential training phase, this course prepares Medical Specialists to provide expert care within the CAF health system and across operational environments. You will gain an understanding of key common CAF and Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) policies, CAF-specific and specialty-specific operational medicine, and the unique aspects of military healthcare. Upon completion, you will be equipped to deliver specialist healthcare in support of CAF members while leading multidisciplinary healthcare teams in both civilian and deployed settings.

Emergency Medicine Specialists may be eligible to apply for the opportunity to further specialize their medical practice and, when applicable, can receive subsidized educational opportunities in exchange for additional years of service. Supported training will normally consist of a fellowship program at a Canadian University but may include other post-graduate degrees and/or courses determined to be complimentary to military practice. These might include pre-hospital care, disaster medicine, simulation in education or toxicology.

As they progress in their career, Emergency Medicine Specialists who demonstrate the required qualifications, ability and potential may be offered advanced training in the following areas:

• Flight Surgeon (Aerospace Medicine);
• Dive and Hyperbaric Medicine;
• Mobile Surgical Resuscitation Team training;
• Nuclear, Chemical and Biologic Threats and Response;
• Forward Acute Care Resuscitation Team training; and
• Military and health care leadership.

Part time options

The role of the Canadian Forces Health Services Reserves is to provide trained personnel to support, augment and sustain Canadian Forces Health Services organizations for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) operations and training activities, while building and maintaining links between the CAF and the local community.

As a health care professional in the Health Services Reserves, you must have an unrestricted licence to practice in your clinical field (including certification in your specific specialty) and maintain clinical currency within your civilian workplace.

A position may be available for part-time employment with the Primary Reserve at certain locations across Canada. Members of the Primary Reserve are paid during their training. They are not required to move, however, they can volunteer to move close to another unit. They may also volunteer for teaching, training and/or deployment on a military mission within or outside Canada.

Medical Specialists can broaden the medical support capability of the Health Services by joining 1 Canadian Field Hospital Detachment Ottawa. Members of this Primary Reserve unit complete a minimum annual commitment of 14 days of service and/or training at any time during the year, doing any or all of the following: providing health care services to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, teaching and monitoring clinical skills of personnel, attending field exercises to practice and/or provide medical care in a military field environment.

Medical Specialists serving in the Primary Reserve may live and work across Canada, as long as they are within a 100 km of a CAF Health Services unit. There is a small headquarters and administration section located in Ottawa, Ontario to assist them. All members of the Canadian Forces Health Services Reserves may have an opportunity to work internationally as members of a deployed Canadian Forces Health Services Team, on a voluntary basis.

Part-time opportunities within the CAF may exist for specialties and sub-specialties, depending on the requirements and position availability. These include:

Anesthesiology

Emergency Medicine

General Surgery

Internal Medicine (General, Infectious Diseases, Critical Care)

Orthopedic Surgery

Radiology

Neurosurgery

Plastic Surgery

Thoracic Surgery

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Pediatrics

Otolaryngology

Urology

Opthamology

Cardiology

Gastroenterology

Pathology

Dermatology

To find out more information or to apply please contact a Health Services Specialist Recruiter: ***email_hidden***

Find a Recruiting Centre

Reserve Force members are trained to the same level as their Regular Force counterparts. Incoming Medical Specialists in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will attend the Rank Qualification Medical Specialist Major (RQ-Med Spec-Maj) course delivered by the Canadian Forces Health Services Training Centre (CFHSTC). Consisting of an online asynchronous distributed learning (approximately 20 hours) and a five-day residential training phase, this course prepares Medical Specialists to provide expert care within the CAF health system and across operational environments. You will gain an understanding of key common CAF and Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) policies, CAF-specific and specialty-specific operational medicine, and the unique aspects of military healthcare. Upon completion, you will be equipped to deliver specialist healthcare in support of CAF members while leading multidisciplinary healthcare teams in both civilian and deployed settings.

Medical Specialists in the Primary Reserve maintain their civilian positions in tertiary care hospitals across Canada. They belong to 1 Canadian Field Hospital Detachment Ottawa and stay operationally ready by participating in required military skills training and field exercises. Primary Reserve Medical Specialists will be able to contribute to development and delivery of clinical teaching and training tasks delivered across Canada, as well as volunteer to deploy to unique and challenging clinical environments as part of a Health Services team on domestic and international operations. In some cases, they may be able to provide medical care in a Canadian military health care clinic or operating theatre. Reserve Force members are paid 92.8% of Regular Force rates of pay, have the opportunity to receive a reasonable benefits package and may qualify to contribute to a pension plan.

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