The Practice

The practice of medicine in northern Canada is, in some ways, similar to anywhere in Canada, but with important differences.  A general practitioner in a remote travel clinic will be working as a consultant to the nurses in isolated community health centres.  In larger centres, general practitioners are part of a team of primary care providers working within a hospital or clinic in either Yellowknife, Inuvik, Hay River, or Fort Smith.  For example, Emergency Rooms within NWT Hospitals are staffed by General Practitioners.  Specially trained GP's do anesthesia, surgery and obstetrics in our northern hospitals.  General Practitioner training is fully used and often enhanced in our work environment.

Specialists are Yellowknife based out of the Stanton Territorial Health Authority.  The GNWT employs Specialists in the following areas:

  • general surgery, 

  • obstetrics and gynecology, 

  • orthopedic surgery, 

  • ENT, 

  • ophthalmology, 

  • pediatrics, 

  • internal medicine, 

  • psychiatry, 

  • anesthesia, and 

  • diagnostic imaging. 

They act as consultants and work with primary care providers across the NWT (and Kitikmeot region of Nunuvut).  All major surgery is done at Stanton Territorial Hospital.  Some emergency and minor surgery is done in Inuvik.  Itinerant surgery is done in Inuvik and Hay River by Stanton based surgeons as well.  Mammograms are done in Inuvik and Yellowknife.  Ultrasounds occur in all hospitals.  CT and more advanced DI are available in Yellowknife at Stanton Territorial Hospital.  Lab procedures are done regionally, territorially or referred to our contracted reference lab in Edmonton.  Endoscopies are available in all territorial hospitals.

We have an integrated system where patient focused care is provided in the local health centre or in the nearest facility where the necessary care can be carried out.

 

Last Updated: March 20, 2008

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