Terrace

The thriving community of Terrace offers northern living at its finest. Nestled in a broad, forested valley and surrounded by snow‑capped mountains, Terrace is known for its world‑class outdoor recreation, including skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and fishing in pristine glacier‑fed rivers, lakes, and streams. The city serves as a regional hub for northwest British Columbia, with strong sectors in transportation, communications, and natural resources, and a growing arts, culture, and local food scene. With a population of approximately 12,700, Terrace combines the amenities of a small city with the warmth of a close‑knit community. Residents enjoy excellent schools, diverse recreation facilities, and easy access to wilderness adventures just minutes from town. Its central location, welcoming atmosphere, and exceptional quality of life make Terrace an ideal place to build both a rewarding career and a fulfilling lifestyle. https://www.northernhealth.ca/our-communities/terrace

Practice Details:

Northern Health is seeking a Family Physician with obstetrical experience to join our collaborative maternity care team in Terrace, British Columbia. This is an excellent opportunity to practice broad scope maternity care within a supportive, team based environment serving a diverse regional population.
The position is flexible. The clinic component is approximately 0.4 FTE, and with on call coverage (approximately 1:4), the total commitment can range up to 1.0 FTE, depending on physician preference. Locum coverage (short or long term) is also required and strongly welcomed.

About the Maternity Team
Maternity care in Terrace is provided by a collegial group of family physicians working closely with Obstetrician Gynecologists, experienced obstetrical providers, nursing staff, and allied health professionals. Care is delivered through a combination of structured prenatal clinics and a shared labour and delivery call group.
We value open communication, shared learning, and mutual support, with a strong emphasis on safe, team based decision making.

Team & Support Includes:
• A collegial group of family physicians who routinely consult, debrief, and problem solve together
• Experienced and dedicated maternity nursing staff
• Cesarean section backup from Obstetrician Gynecologists and OSS/ESS trained physicians
• Pediatricians providing regular on call support
• Anesthesia on call for epidural services
• Respiratory therapists available 24/7 for NRP and birth support
• Close collaboration with three local midwives (two with hospital privileges)

Who We Care For
• Patients referred by community family physicians (often after ~24 weeks’ gestation)
• Attached and unattached prenatal patients
• Individuals from a large geographic catchment across northwest British Columbia
• A mix of low risk pregnancies and patients with increased medical, social, or geographic complexity
• Gestational age cut offs are in place due to the absence of a functional NICU

How the Service Works
Prenatal Care Model
Low Risk & General Prenatal Clinic
• Dedicated maternity nursing team conducts initial prenatal history appointments
• Weekly prenatal clinic runs Thursdays, typically staffed by two physicians plus learners
• Physicians who participate in the call group also rotate through prenatal clinic sessions
• Clinic work is paid at a set hourly sessional rate with no overhead
Higher Risk Prenatal Clinic
• A separate prenatal clinic provides care for pregnancies deemed higher risk
• Patients are followed longitudinally by specific designated providers, allowing for continuity and advanced care planning
• This clinic works closely with the broader maternity and obstetrical team to support safe intrapartum care
Labour & Delivery / Hospital Based Care
• A shared call group manages labours for both low and higher risk obstetrical patients
• 24 hour call shifts; weekends typically run Friday 08:00 – Monday 08:00
• Intrapartum care is supported by:
o Obstetrician Gynecologists
o Experienced obstetrical family physicians
o Dedicated maternity nursing staff
• Providers attend cesarean sections as surgical assists
• Local community physicians with longitudinal family practices bill through LFP or fee for service, depending on their clinic model
Postpartum Care
• Postpartum clinic days are available for patients without a primary care provider
• Follow up is typically to 6 weeks postpartum, with extensions up to 6 months as clinically appropriate

Additional Opportunities (Optional)
• Women’s Wellness Clinic (Tuesdays): contraception, cervical cancer screening, menopause care, and prioritized access for patients requiring pregnancy termination
• Opportunities to connect with and work within:
o OAT clinic
o Low barrier care clinic
o Emergency Department
o Community family medicine practices

Facilities
• Newly opened prenatal/postpartum clinic space featuring:
o On site NST machine
o On site vaccination capacity (final approvals underway)
• A new hospital facility (opened November 2024) with:
o Spacious birthing and postpartum rooms
o Modern obstetrical and surgical equipment

Locum Opportunities
We are actively seeking locum physicians to support the service:
• Short term or long term locum coverage available
• Income guarantees provided
• Travel and accommodation reimbursement available through Rural Locum Programs (LRBC)
• Flexible scope depending on interest (clinic, call, or combined)

Ideal Candidate
We are looking for a physician who:
• Appreciates a communicative, team based, and supportive work environment
• Enjoys rural maternity care and continuity of care
• Is adaptable, collaborative, and comfortable working within a shared care model
• May also be interested in locum work or additional scopes within Terrace’s broader primary and acute care system

Qualifications:

• Eligible for full or provisional family medicine license with CPSBC
• Obstetric experience
• Medical degree

Call Schedule:

Hours of work: No Details
On call requirements: 1:4

Compensation:

Ksyen Regional Hospital:

Ksyen Regional Hospital welcomed its first patients in November 2024. More than double the size of the previous hospital, it is a center for trauma services, acute care, surgical services pathology, radiology, clinical support and pharmacy services for the Northwest region. The hospital staff prides itself on delivering culturally safe care to our Indigenous populations.

• 42 Acute Care Beds
• 20 bed Psychiatry unit
• 4 surgical suites, including a dedicated Orthopedics OR
• 6 ICU Beds, with potential to expand to 8
• 20 Bed Emergency Department with 2 Trauma Bays
• Large Ambulatory Care Unit
• Community Cancer clinic
• Hemodialysis Unit
• Pediatric Care Space
• MRI, CT, and Nuclear Medicine services

The new hospital will also include a Tier 3 neonatal intensive care unit and special care nursery, which will provide community-based antenatal and postnatal services, education and parenting support to pregnant individuals.

The hospital is also a training site for medical students in the Northern Medical Program and residents through the UBC Family Medicine Residency Program.

Other facilities in Terrace include:
• Terraceview Lodge
• Terrace Community Health
• McConnell Estates
• Seven Sisters Residence