Medical Officer

Overview

As a member of the military, Medical Officers with Certification in the College of Family Physicians and who hold Special Competency in Emergency Medicine (CCFP(EM)) provide specialized urgent and emergent resuscitative care and instruction in both pre-hospital and hospital environments for Canadian Forces Health Services training and deployed operations. They have the opportunity to be a leader within the Canadian Forces Health Services and serve as mentors and educators to the full spectrum of military health care providers. Their primary responsibilities are to:

• Be part of multidisciplinary emergency resuscitation teams in Canada and in deployed settings, internationally;
  
• Provide in-transport care for injured or ill Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members during evacuation;
  
• Educate and advise multidisciplinary teams on emergency resuscitation;
  
• Maintain a highlevel of clinical skills, by holding a position within a civilian health care facility that meets approved CAF requirements;
  
• Contribute to the development and application of health care policies within the CAF.

Work environment

Medical Officer CCFP(EM)s in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) maintain their clinical readiness by being embedded as clinical staff in civilian hospitals across Canada, working alongside their civilian colleagues. In addition to primary clinical duties, participation in education and training tasks, as well as research opportunities, occur nationally and internationally. 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.

If you chose a career in the Regular Force, upon completion of all required training, you will be assigned to your first base. While there is some flexibility with regards to postings (relocations), accommodations can’t always be made, and therefore, you can likely expect to move at some point in your career. However, if you decide to join the Primary Reserve Force, you will do so through a specific Reserve unit. Outside of training, your chosen Reserve unit will be your workplace on a part time basis, and you will not be obligated to relocate to a different base. As part of the Primary Reserve Force, you typically work one night per week and some weekends as a minimum with possibilities of full-time employment.

Entry plans

• Direct Entry Options

If you have certification in the College of Family Physicians with added competency certification in Emergency Medicine (CCFP(EM)), and have a current unrestricted license to practice emergency medicine in any Canadian province or territory, you may be eligible for enrolment and to commence basic training.

Training

At the first available opportunity, you will complete Basic Military Officer Qualification training at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec. Medical Officer CCFP(EM)s take the Condensed Health Services Basic Military Officer Qualification training which consists of two weeks of Distance Learning and four weeks of in-house training in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Topics covered include general military knowledge, the principles of leadership, regulations and customs of the Forces, basic weapons handling, and first aid. Opportunities will also be provided to apply such newly acquired military skills in training exercises involving force protection, field training, navigation and leadership. A rigorous physical fitness program is also a vital part of basic training. Basic Military Officer Qualification training is provided in English or French and successful completion is a prerequisite for further training.

Medical Officer CCFP(EM)s must complete the Common Health Services Officer (CHSO) course which is an eight-day e-learning course available on the Defence Learning Network (DLN). The CHSO course introduces Medical Officers to Canadian Armed Forces policies and procedures as well as Human Resource management of military members and civilian personnel.

Medical Officer CCFP(EM)s attend the Basic Medical Officer Course at the Canadian Forces Health Services Training Center in Borden, Ontario. Here, they are introduced to the organizational structure and history of the Canadian Forces Medical Service and the unique circumstances of practicing military medicine. This training incorporates blended delivery modalities with on-line components and a residential component.

Environmental training, an operational requirement, includes field exercises that may take place anywhere in the world.

Medical Officer CCFP(EM)s may be eligible to apply for advanced operational and/or environmental military training. Post graduate training or courses determined to be complimentary to military practice such as Point of Care Ultrasound and pre-hospital or transport medicine may also be supported.

As they progress in their career, Medical Officer CCFP(EM)s who demonstrate the required qualifications, ability and potential may be offered advanced training in the following areas:

• Aviation Medicine;
  
• Canadian Medical Emergency Response Team (CMERT);
  
• Forward Aeromedical Evacuation;
  
• Mobile SurgicalResuscitation Team;
  
• Nuclear, Chemical and Biologic Threats and Response;
  
• Forward Acute Care Resuscitation Team Training;
  
• Undersea Medicine;
  
• Epidemiology and Research;
  
• Medical Education and Simulation;
  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 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 practise in your clinical field (including certification in CCFP(EM)) 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 and may also volunteer for teaching, training and/or deployment on a military mission within or outside Canada.

Medical Officer CCFP(EM)s will broaden the medical support capability of Health Services by joining a Reserve Field Ambulance. Members of Primary Reserve units 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.

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.

Reserve Force members are trained to the same level as their Regular Force counterparts. All members complete 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. This training varies in length and is usually available in two-week sessions or on weekends. Reserve Medical Officers also complete the Common Health Officers (CHSO as above, followed by the Basic Medical Officer Course (BMOC), which teaches you how to employ your clinical skills/profession within the military environment. This training incorporates both on-line and on-site training over six weeks and is usually available once per year, in one-, two- or three-week sessions held at the Canadian Forces Health Services Training Centre (CFHSTC), in Borden, Ontario.

CCFP(EM)s in the Primary Reserve maintain their civilian positions and skills in hospitals across Canada and are not required to relocate. They belong to a Reserve Field Ambulance and stay operationally ready by participating in required military skills training and field exercises. Primary Reserve Medical CCFP(EM)s will be able to contribute to the development and delivery of clinical teaching and training tasks delivered across Canada, as well as to deploy to unique and challenging clinical environments as part of a Health Services team on domestic and international operations. Reserve Force members are paid 92.8% of Regular Force rates of pay as a per diem, have the opportunity to receive a reasonable benefits package, and may qualify to contribute to a pension plan.

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