The Rural GP Locum Program (RGPLP) was established to assist rural GP's in taking reasonable periods of leave from their practices. The program provides locum physicians with opportunities to practice in rural British Columbia, and enables rural GP's to secure subsidized relief for Continuing Medical Education (CME), vacation and health needs.  A locum pool is maintained by the RGPLP.

The Program - Host Physician Information

  • Each rural physician who meets the criteria may request the following number of days of locum services per year based on community designation:

    •  

              'A' communities - 43 days
              'B' communities - 38 days
              'C' communities - 33 days
              'D' communities - 28 days

     

  • Each request must be a minimum of five (5) days, except for weekend assignments (see below).
  • When a statutory holiday falls mid-week, a locum assignment may be a minimum of four (4) days, but five (5) days will be deducted from the host physician's annual eligible number of days.
  • Host physicians retain 40% MSP paid claims to cover overhead.
  • To qualify, a host GP physician must be living and practicing medicine in an eligible RSA community with seven (7) or fewer full-time general practitioners.
  • When the health authority has a vacancy in the physician supply plan that is causing serious health care service access problems and/or an unreasonable workload being placed on the physician, they may request locum coverage.

To Obtain a Locum

  • Contact the RGPLP using the contact information provided to request a Locum Assistance Form.

Responsibilities of Host Physician

  • Provide the locum in advance of the assignment with a list of the responsibilities the host physician expects the locum to fulfill as well as a written explanation of all payments and other supports the locum can expect to receive during and resulting from the locum assignment.
  • Provide reasonable accommodation for the locum physician.
  • Submit claims within two weeks of the end date of the locum assignment, and refused claims within two weeks of the refusal date.
  • Provide the locum with a detailed reconciliation of claims submitted.
  • Ensure that the locum receives the on-call payment and retention premium, if applicable.
  • Reimbursement of services not covered by MSP (e.g. private, ICBC, WCB and reciprocal billings) should be paid directly to the locum by the host physician, less the 40% overhead recovery.

The Program - Locum Physician Information

  • RGPLP locums are paid the following guaranteed daily rates based on the community designation:

              'A' communities - $900
              'B' communities - $850
              'C' communities - $800
              'D' communities - $750

  • When provided by the host physician and required by a rural hospital, a daily stipend of $50 per day for Emergency and Obstetrics/Gynecology and $100 per day for General Surgery and Anesthesia is paid.  If more than one enhanced skill is provided, the maximum is $100 per day.
  • Locums may also receive a proportionate payment for on-call and the RRP fee-for-service premium where agreed to by the host physician.
  • Claims must be submitted using the host physician payment number and the locum physician practitioner number.

Locum Application

  • Contact the RGPLP to request a Locum Application Form.
  • Must have a current certificate in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS); Certificate in Advanced Trauma Life Supports (ATLS) preferred.
  • Must be a GP licensed to practice in British Columbia.
  • Must be a member in good standing with the Canadian Medical Protective Association or carry alternative medical malpractice insurance.
  • Must assign payment to the host physician payment number.
  • RGPLP arranges assignemtns and assists with hospital privileges.
  • Accommodation while on assignment should be pre-arranged by the community or the host physician.

Weekend Locum Assignments

  • The RGPLP also provides weekend locum coverage of three days of short-term relief for rural physicians.  A weekend commences on Friday at 18:00 and concludes at 08:00 on Monday or 09:00 Tuesday if a statutory holiday is part of the weekend.
  • Payment for weekend coverage as described above will be:

              'A' communities - $2,450
              'B' communities - $2,300
              'C' communities - $2,150
              'D' communities - $2,000

 

Application Form | Review Enhancements to the Locum Programs effective October 1, 2008 | Read FAQs | Review the Rural GP Locum Program Policy

Contact information:

Rural Practice Programs:

Physician Compensation
Rural Practice Programs
Ministry of Health Services
3-2, 1515 Blanshard St
Victoria BC V8W 3C8
ph: 250 952-2754
fax: 250 952-3486
email: HLTH.RuralPrograms@gov.bc.ca
website: Ministry of Health Services

BC Medical Association
#115 – 1665 West Broadway
Vancouver BC V6J 5A4
ph: 604 736-5551 or 1 800 665-2262
email: ruralprograms@bcma.bc.ca
website: BCMA

Related links:

Health Match BC