Site Chief PLC

The PLC Site Chief will provide physician leadership and support for the planning, implementation and evaluation of PLC clinical, educational, research and administrative activities as it relates to their specific department, division or program.

Responsibilities: Communicate physician related issues for PLC to their medical leadership team, operations team and membership (up, down and across organization) in collaboration with the Division Lead and Program Leads for respective programs. Collaborate with other Calgary Zone physician leaders (including Division and Program Leads) to develop, implement and evaluate new models of medical service delivery at PLC. Collaborate with the University of Calgary to develop, implement and evaluate innovative education and research models for PLC. Champion causes relevant to PLC. Accountable for training, orienting physicians to PLC. Collaborate with their Department, Division or Program Leads and PLC team to develop, implement and evaluate physician recruitment plan for PLC. Collaborate with the Division and Program Leads on developing strategies and plans for ambulatory and inpatient care. Participate in monthly Clinical Design Team meetings.

1. Enhanced Coordination of Clinical Services
a. Streamlined Patient Flow
The neurology site lead often works with administrative teams, nursing leadership, and other medical departments (e.g., Emergency, Neurosurgery, Internal Medicine) to design and refine care pathways. By standardizing processes—such as stroke protocols or inpatient consult procedures—they help ensure that neurology patients receive timely, coordinated care.

b. Quality and Safety Initiatives
Site leads typically spearhead quality-improvement projects, such as reducing wait times for specialized imaging (e.g., MRI) or implementing updated guidelines for acute conditions (e.g., stroke, seizures). These initiatives can directly improve patient outcomes and the overall patient experience.

c. Consistency in Clinical Standards
By establishing common clinical protocols, the site lead helps unify practice approaches among neurologists, ensuring that patients receive consistent, evidence-based care regardless of the treating physician.

d. Collaboration with Allied Health Professionals
Neurology patients often require multidisciplinary care involving physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists. Site leads frequently facilitate cross-team meetings and shared protocols, allowing for smooth handoffs and comprehensive patient support.

2. Improved Physician Workload Management
a. Balanced Scheduling
A central responsibility of a site lead is to coordinate clinical coverage—whether for inpatient wards, outpatient clinics, stroke calls, or consult services. By overseeing the master schedule, the site lead can ensure that shifts and on-call duties are distributed more equitably, helping to reduce burnout and maintain morale among the neurology team.

b. Administrative Support
Site leads often serve as the primary point of contact with hospital administration, allowing individual neurologists to spend less time navigating bureaucratic processes. By handling tasks like budgeting requests, resource allocation, and departmental reporting, the site lead frees up clinical staff to focus on patient care.

c. Clear Communication and Conflict Resolution
When issues or conflicts about workload distribution or patient flow arise, the site lead can mediate and work toward resolutions. This central point of communication helps maintain a positive work environment and more even distribution of responsibilities.

d. Professional Development and Mentorship
Site leads often support junior staff, residents, and fellows by organizing educational sessions, recommending them for committees, or facilitating research projects. This mentorship and structured learning environment can enhance job satisfaction and support more balanced career development.

3. Strategic Planning and Advocacy
a. Resource Allocation
By representing neurology at higher-level hospital or regional planning committees, the site lead can advocate for resources—such as increased nursing support, additional diagnostic tools, or bed capacity for neurology patients—that directly impact both patient care and physician workload.

b. Community and Network Engagement
Hospitals like the Peter Lougheed Centre often form part of a larger network, and the site lead collaborates with other hospitals, community providers, or specialized clinics. This ensures that neurology services at the PLC are aligned with regional needs and that physicians benefit from shared initiatives, training, and coverage arrangements.