Medical Director, Poison and Drug Information Service (PADIS), AHS

Job Summary:
 

Alberta Health Services and the Poison and Drug Information Service are seeking applicants for the position of Medical Director, PADIS.
 

PADIS consists of the Poison Centre, which serves Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Northwest Territories. 
 

In accordance with policies, values, and direction of AHS, the Medical Director shall work in a shared leadership model with the Associate Medical Director, Executive Director, and Clinical Manager of PADIS. The Medical Director, Executive Medical Director, Executive Director, and Clinical Manager of PADIS have individual accountabilities, however, it is expected that cooperation and collaboration between these positions will occur.
 

The Practitioner shall be proactive in the strategic development of projects and services which will assist AHS in becoming a national leader in the provision and measurement of safe health care through the services offered by PADIS.
 

PADIS provides Poison Centre services to the public and health professionals of Saskatchewan pursuant to a contract between AHS and the Saskatchewan Health Authority. PADIS also provides Poison Centre services for the Northwest Territories. For the duration of this contract, the Practitioner will also provide services that meet the terms described in the contracts between AHS and the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and AHS and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Responsibilities/Accountabilities:

In a competent and professional manner, within the shared leadership model, the Practitioner shall take a lead role, in consultation with the Associate Medical Director, Manager, Director, and Clinic Manager of PADIS, to:

• Lead the process of physician recruitment, performance assessment (both probationary period and biennial assessment) maintenance of competency and mentorship for PADIS Physician Medical Toxicologists;
• Develop and implement clinical guidelines, continuing medical education sessions, and measurements of performance to support and enable PADIS Information Specialists to maintain clinical competence;
• Assist in training new Information Specialists on all services;
• Attend to patients within the Calgary adult and pediatric acute care hospitals as part of the Medical Toxicology bedside consultation service;
• Attend to outpatients within the Medical Toxicology Outpatient Clinic at the Rockyview General Hospital;
• Act as a supervisor/mentor to the Associate Medical Director which may include, but not limited to coordinating the Medical Toxicology resident rotation:
  • Helping approve resident rotation and vacation requests.
  • Orientating the residents to PADIS and reviewing expectations of the rotation when the Associate Medical Director and Admin support are not available.
  • Participating in the monthly resident teaching schedule.
  • Assisting with completing resident evaluations at the completion of the rotation.
  • Liaising with Program Directors regarding any issues related to resident performance.

• Initiate and supervise toxicology-based research projects that help facilitate the following:

  • Improved patient care.
  • Increase recognition of PADIS in both the medical literature and at international meetings because of published abstracts and manuscripts.
  • Encourage a collaborative environment between Information Specialists and Medical Toxicologists by supporting group research projects.
  • Support students and residents interested in pursuing toxicology research projects.
• Produce and participate in the monthly on-call PADIS Medical Toxicologist rotation..
• Lead educational activities for medical or other health professionals within Alberta and Saskatchewan, including but not limited to: University of Calgary academic half days, annual University of Saskatchewan Toxicology Skills Day (Saskatoon or Regina), and the annual University of Alberta Toxicology Skills Day (Edmonton).
• Develop, implement, maintain and evaluate PADIS surveillance functions, including but not limited to:
  • Monitoring, analyzing and interpreting trends in exposures.
  • Leveraging exposure trends into education messages and/or strategic development/plan opportunities.
• Actively participate in national, international, and other poison centre partnerships and initiatives when these are of benefit to PADIS (e.g. Health Canada CSSPI database project);
• Lead the Quality Improvement activities initiated by PADIS, specifically the quarterly Quality and Patient Safety Rounds;
• Be a lead PADIS spokesperson for clinical and toxicological issues raised by the media;
• Chair the organizing committee for the triennial PADIS Conference
• Co-chair monthly PADIS Business Operations, Staff and Toxicology Research Interest Group (TRIG) meetings;