1. British Columbia Rural Programs
Joint Standing Committee (BCMA/MoH)
Rural Coordination Centre of BC
Rural Education Action Plan

2. DISCLOSURES

No conflicts of interest to declare
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3. OBJECTIVES




Understand the goals and functions of the Rural
Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc);
Describe the education opportunities and financial
incentives for physicians practicing in rural
communities;
Identify the eligibility and benefits of CME
programming provided through the Rural
Education Action Plan (REAP); and
Identify inter-professional practice-related courses
on key practice-related matters designed for rural
physicians and other health care professionals.
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4. Rural Programs at a Glance

Rural Retention Program

Isolation Allowance Fund

Northern & Isolation Travel Assistance Outreach Program

Rural GP Locum Program

Rural Education Action Plan

Rural Continuing Medical Education

Recruitment Incentive Fund

Recruitment Contingency Fund
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5. Rural Programs
Rural GP Locum Program


Supports rural GPs to have
periods of leave from their
practice for continuing medical
education, vacation and health
needs.
Rural Retention Program

Physician‟s individual premium is
based upon the number of isolation
points in his/her community.

30% of medical isolation points are
paid as a flat fee amount, while the
remaining 70% are paid as a feefor-service premium.

Must be residing and providing
medical services in an eligible RSA
community for at least 9 months per
year.

Have billings equal to or greater
than $65,000 in the previous year to
qualify for the flat fee.
RGPLP locums are paid a
guaranteed daily rate based
upon community designation.
„A‟ Community - $900
„B‟ Community - $850
„C‟ Community - $800
„D‟ Community - $750

When provided by the host
physician and required by a rural
hospital, a daily stipend for ER,
Obs/Gyn, of $50 per day and for
GS and Anes $100 per day is
paid.
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6. Rural Programs
Rural Continuing Medical
Education

Provides rural physicians with
enhanced CME funding up to
$5,720 year

Funding per physician is
determined by the level of
isolation and the length of
service in that community

Physicians must be living and
working in one of the eligible
RSA communities for a
minimum of 9 months
Recruitment Incentive Fund

Financial benefits available to
physicians recruited to fill
vacancies or pending
vacancies that are part of a
Physician Supply Plan in RSA
communities.

Incentive amounts vary based
upon community
designations:
„A‟ Community - $20,000
„B‟ Community - $15,000
„C‟ Community - $10,000
„D‟ Community - $ 5,000
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7. Rural Coordination Centre of BC
(RCCbc)

To improve rural health in British Columbia by
supporting the coordination of health education and
community partnerships.

To develop into the “Go To” centre for rural educational
issues.

To be a strategic forum for discussion of rural health
education and practice.

To facilitate and coordinate educational initiatives which
will attract, train, recruit and retain health professionals
for service in rural B.C.

Repository of community and health services
information. www.rccbc.ca
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8. Rural Programs at a Glance

Rural Retention Program

Isolation Allowance Fund

Northern & Isolation Travel Assistance Outreach Program

Rural GP Locum Program

Rural Education Action Plan

Rural Continuing Medical Education

Recruitment Incentive Fund

Recruitment Contingency Fund
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9. RCCbc:
Connect and foster collaboration between stakeholders
(such as practitioners, community organizations,
educators, health administrators and policy makers) to
maintain sustainable, ongoing relationships, networks
and/or multi-lateral partnerships.

10. Dr. Carl Whiteside
Specific
Populations
Dr. Blair Stanley
Dr. Stuart Johnston
Patients
Health
Professionals
Community
Dr. Bob Woollard
Dr. Carl Whiteside
Rural Health
Services
Research,
Evaluation
and Quality
Improvement
Dr. Alan Ruddiman

11. C.A.R.E. Course
An Interprofessional EM course delivered:
 In co-operation with Health Authority
 To Rural Physicians, Nurses and Paramedics
 By Rural Physicians, Nurses and Paramedics
 In the community ED
 With community equipment
 Covering
 Rural Emergency Cardiac Care
 Rural Emergency Trauma Care
 Rural Emergency Paediatric Care
 Rural Obstetrical and Infant Emergency Care
 Rural ED Teamwork and Communication
 Ongoing teaching/practice between courses
 Independently Assessed
 Offered to all Rural EDs every two years.

12. UBC – Rural CPD
The Shock Course
An Interprofessional EM course delivered:
 In co-operation with Health Authority
 To Rural Physicians and Nurses
 In the community ED
 With community equipment and Ultrasound
 Covering
 Immediate management of Shock of any cause in the rural ED
 Emergency use of US in the treatment of shock
 Rural ED Teamwork and Communication
 Offered to all Rural EDs every two years.

13. RCME
•
RCCbc has been tasked by the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues (JSC)
to review RCME policies in each Health Authority.
•
Meetings with:
– CEO Health Authority & VP Medicine
– RCME Coordinators & Administration Staff
•
Items / information to be gathered:
– Review of MoHS guidelines and Rural Subsidiary Agreement (RSA)
regulations.
– Process of administering RCME funds.
– Provision of claims adjudication.
– Reporting process for physicians‟ entitlements.
– Tracking and reporting processes for community (unspent) funds.
– Process of applying for community funds.
– Process for integration with Provincial, Health Authority and local CPD
planning.
– Establishment of RCME offices.

14. Rural Education Action Plan (REAP)
First Year Practice Enhancement Program
Eligibility:
 Physicians who are in their 1st year of practice in a RSA
community
Benefits:
 Eligible for 5 days of funding for every 1 month of service
within the first year
 Stipend of $680 per day.
 $90 per day from stipend to go towards primary preceptors
or departments.
 Travel costs up to $2,000 covered.
 Accommodation up to $200 per day.
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15. Rural Education Action Plan (REAP)
Advanced Skills & Training Program
Eligibility:
 Must be practicing in a RSA community for at least 9 months
of past year.
Benefits:
 Funding from 1-60 days
 Stipend of $680 per day.
 $90 per day from stipend to go towards primary preceptors
or departments.
 Travel costs up to $2,000 covered.
 Accommodation up to $200 per day.
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16. Rural Education Action Plan (REAP)
Specialty Training Bursary
Residents or Rural Physicians are eligible to apply if they:
 are enrolled in the final two years of a Canadian Specialty
Residency program;
 have been accepted to a specialty position by a hospital
included in the RSA once they have completed their
residency program.
Benefits:
 Each successful applicant will be eligible for up to 2 years of
bursary funding (at $25,000/annum) to a maximum of
$50,000. Bursary funding is only available while the recipient
is pursuing a Specialty Residency Program.
 Two (2) bursaries will be offered in each fiscal year.
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17. Contact Details
RCCbc
Rural Programs
Dr Granger Avery
Executive Director
gavery@island.net
Elisa Chan, Project Manager
604 738-8222
echan.rccbc@familymed.ubc.ca
Rural Practice Programs
Ministry of Health
250 952-3588
HLTH.PhysicianComp@gov.bc.ca
Rural Education Action Plan
UBC Dept of Family Practice
Lisa Oliver
604 827-4188
lisa.oliver@familymed.ubc.ca
BC Medical Association
Meredith Cormier
604 638-2810
mcormier@bcma.bc.ca
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