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Specialist Physicians  (NOC 3111)
Annapolis Valley Region
Description |  Titles |  Duties |   Related Occupations

This unit group includes specialist physicians in clinical medicine, in laboratory medicine and in surgery. Specialists in clinical medicine diagnose and treat diseases and physiological or psychiatric disorders and act as consultants to other physicians. Specialists in laboratory medicine study the nature, cause and development of diseases in humans. Specialists in surgery perform and supervise surgical procedures. Specialists in clinical medicine usually work in private practice or in a hospital while those in laboratory medicine and in surgery usually work in hospitals. Residents in training to become specialist physicians are included in this unit group.

anatomical pathologist, anesthetist, cardiac surgeon, cardiologist, clinical immunologist-allergist, dermatologist, diagnostic radiologist, emergency physician, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, general pathologist, general surgeon, geriatrician, hematologist, hematopathologist, medical microbiologist, nephrologist, neurologist, neuropathologist, neurosurgeon, obstetrician-gynecologist, oncologist, ophthalmologist, orthopedic surgeon, orthopedist, otolaryngologist, otorhinolaryngologist, pediatric surgeon, pediatrician, physiatrist, plastic surgeon, pneumologist, psychiatrist, radiation oncologist, respirologist, rheumatologist, thoracic surgeon, urologist, vascular surgeon.

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Specialists in clinical medicine perform some or all of the following duties:
  • Diagnose and treat diseases and physiological or psychiatric disorders
  • Order laboratory tests, X-rays and other diagnostic procedures
  • Prescribe medication and treatment and refer patients for surgery
  • Act as consultants to other physicians
  • May conduct medical research.
Specialists in laboratory medicine perform some or all of the following duties:
  • Study the nature, cause and development of diseases in humans and the structural and functional changes caused by diseases
  • Conduct microscopic and chemical analyses of laboratory samples and specimens
  • Supervise laboratory activities
  • Act as consultants to other physicians.
Specialists in surgery perform some or all of the following duties:
  • Assess patients' diseases or disorders to determine appropriate surgical procedures
  • Perform and supervise surgical procedures to correct physical abnormalities and deficiencies and repair injuries
  • Act as consultants to other physicians.
Included Cities in Region | Service Canada Offices

Berwick, Bridgetown, Hantsport, Kentville, Middleton, Windsor, Wolfville

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View a list of Service Canada offices in this area.

Outlook & Prospects for Specialist Physicians in Annapolis Valley Region

The future forecast and current conditions for an occupation can vary based on location or due to changes in the economy, technology, or demand for a product or service.

Local Employment Potential Information

Table on the employment potential for Specialist Physicians in Annapolis Valley Region as well as in the rest of the Nova Scotia.
Location Employment Potential Release Date
Annapolis Valley Region Good 2011-10-06

Currently the chances of qualified Specialist Physicians finding employment are considered to be good in the local area. The main reason why the employment potential is Good in the local area is that there has been a shortage of specialist physicians for a number of years coupled with an aging population increasing the demand for health services. Physicians continue to retire or move out of the area due to better opportunities in other parts of Canada or in the United States. Due to the population-base, specialists and surgeons tend to locate around the metro area because they tend to work collaboratively. However, the valley area appears to offer better opportunities than many other rural areas in Nova Scotia for specialist physicians such as urologists, psychiatrists, internal medicine, anaesthetists, etc. Recruitment, nationally and internationally, is on-going at the local level.

In 2010, Annapolis Valley Health (AVH) continue to actively recruit for sub specialists in Urology, Anaesthesiology, Psychiatry, Geriatrics, Neurology, Respirology, Rheumatology, Cardiology, and Critical Care as well as generalists and internists. These openings were all current opportunities as of December 2010. There are 6 operating rooms located at Valley Regional Hospital with 8 Anesthetists and 24 Surgeons.

The Valley Regional Hospital (Kentville) recently had a 21-bed expansion (2008) while over 100 new long-term care beds were added within the Valley district by early 2010 as a result of two new Shannex facilities opening in Kentville (62 beds) and Wolfville (50 beds).

Physician shortages and long standing under funding for patient services in the Annapolis Valley have resulted in long periods of full status in the hospital, increased waiting lists for surgery and emergency room closures.

Interested applicants must be Royal College of Canada certified or equivalent and licensure with College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia is mandatory.

In addition to employment opportunities locally, opportunities may exist in other areas of the province or in other regions of the country. People who are able to work elsewhere may want to research opportunities for this occupation in other labour markets within Nova Scotia and across the country. The future employment outlook for Specialist Physicians in Nova Scotia is expected to be good over the next 5 years.

Additional information on Specialist Physicians (opportunities in other areas, training, who hires, current job openings, statistics and other information), is available on other parts of this web site.

[ Source: Labour Market Information - HRSDC ]
Please consult the Nova Scotia and Canada tabs for more useful information related to outlook.