Rural Specialist Locum Program
The Rural Specialist Locum Program (RSLP) helps rural specialists secure subsidized periods of leave from their practices for purposes such as Continuing Medical Education (CME), vacation and health needs. Subject to prior authorization by the JSC and subject to the availability of funding and locums, the RSLP may also be used to assist health authorities address serious gaps in the provision of specialist services caused by vacancies in physician supply plans.
The Program - General Information
- The current list of RSLP eligible communities approved by the JSC are:
Campbell River, Comox, Courtenay, Cranbrook, Dawson Creek, Ft. St. John, Kitimat, Nelson, Port Alberni, Powell River, Prince George, Prince Rupert, Quesnel, Salmon Arm, Sechelt, Smithers, Terrace, Trail and Williams Lake. - The designated core specialties are: Anesthesia, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Psychiatry and Radiology. There must be fewer than five physicians who maintain hospital privileges and provide on-call support in that speciality service within 70 km of the community.
The Program – Host Physician Information
- Rural physicians in designated core specialty categories who maintain privileges in a rural hospital and who participate in an on-call group in support of a rural hospital’s operations in designated rural communities are eligible for RSLP benefits for up to a maximum of 35 days of locum coverage per year.
- Each request must be at least two days in duration.
To qualify, a host physician must reside and practice for a minimum of nine months of the year in a designated community.
In cases where the program provides locum services solely for the purpose of filling the medical on-call availability schedule, the health authority will ensure that the locum days are applied against each of the local specialist’s 35 days in an equitable manner.
To Obtain a Locum
- Contact the RSLP to request a Specialist Locum Assistance Form.
Responsibilities of Host Physician
- When the locum is providing office-based services, the host physician is expected to 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, from the health authority or host physician.
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 amount recovered for overhead.
Reasonable accommodation is to be provided by the health authority.
The Program – Locum Physician Information
- RSLP locums are paid a guaranteed rate of $1,200 per day.
Locums are eligible to receive payment for on-call and the RRP fee-for-service premium.
For office-based assignments, locums must assign payment to the host physician’s payment number.
For on-call assignments, the locums must apply for an additional payment number and bill all claims under that payment number for the duration of the assignment.
Locum Application
- Contact the RSLP to request a Specialist Locum Application Form.
- Certificates in ATLS and ACLS (preferred).
- Must be certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons or be a non-certified specialist with additional recognized training in one of the core specialties and eligible to write qualifying exams.
- Must be a member in good standing with the Canadian Medical
Protective Association or carry alternative medical malpractice insurance. - Must not be a core specialist in a RSLP-designated specialty centre.
- RSLP arranges assignments, and the health authority assists with hospital privileges.
- Accommodation while on assignment should be pre-arranged by the health authority.
- Click here for general information.
- Review Enhancements to the Locum Programs effective October 1, 2008.
- Read FAQs
- Review the Rural Specialist 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
pmail: ruralprograms@bcma.bc.ca
pebsite: BCMA
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