Membership Information
The Vancouver Division of Family Practice is all about bringing together family doctors from across the City of Vancouver to leverage their collective wisdom and experience to improve the way our health care system works in Vancouver.
The Vancouver Division has many facets of work:
- Tools and services that support you as an individual family doctor
- Opportunities to connect and collaborate with your colleagues across the city
- System-focused change initiatives, including the development of Primary Care Networks (PCNs)
To become a member of the Vancouver Division you must:
- Either be a resident, actively practicing family physician, or a retired physician who practiced in Vancouver
- Practice 51% of the time in the City of Vancouver
Membership is Free!
To apply to become a member, please complete this provincial online form to join one of BC’s 35 Divisions of Family Practice. Select Vancouver as your practice community in the application to join the Vancouver Division of Family Practice. Our administrative team will follow-up with an additional intake form, gathering specific information for Vancouver.
As a member of the Vancouver Division, you gain access to a series of benefits listed below.
Membership Benefits
- Access to free UpToDate subscription, which is the go-to resource for members to help make appropriate care decisions. UpToDate delivers evidence-based clinical decision support that is clear, actionable, and rich with real-world insights. * (Note: Resident members receive free UpToDate access via the Provincial office)
- Access to the Pathways system, which provides members quick access to current and accurate referral information. This includes wait times and areas of expertise of specialists and specialty clinics. It also provides access to hundreds of patient and physician resources, as well community service and allied health information that is categorized and searchable.
- Members have free access to telephone interpreters from PHSA’s Provincial Language Services (PLS). PLS provides interpreting services to any BC primary health care provider and can be accessed over the phone within minutes. Click here for the list of languages offered.
- The Division has developed a successful approach to locum matching that focuses on building relationships to ensure compatible matches. Opportunities are posted on Work in Vancouver and members can connect with our talented Recruitment and Retention team to find out more.
- Resources to support managing your practice, with staff available to help guide you to the right information on topics such as information on billing, clinic communication tools and resources, and virtual health support.
- If you are looking to grow your practice and panel, the Division has dedicated programs to explore adding patients in a controlled and intentional manner.
- The Division’s Long-term Care Initiative has a strong infrastructure of programs and supports to help interested family doctors add a long-term care panel to their practice.
- Free education and training events on a variety of topics, many of which are continuing medical education (CME) accredited.
- Over the years, the Division undertakes many initiatives to support full-spectrum primary care. Examples include bringing the CBT Skills Group Program to Vancouver and the ongoing development of Primary Care Networks.
- The Division’s Recruitment and Retention Team also provides several Retirement Supports to help you plan for your transition to retirement.
- Members receive our bi-weekly Fast Facts eNewsletter which curates all the relevant information you might need.
- Physician wellness is a priority. Our regularly held “Healthy Minds, Healthy Distractions” series fosters a culture of compassion by offering members a time to come together for creative and unique experiences. They are meant to be an intentional distraction from the increasing demands of family practice.
- Members can join a variety of Communities of Practices (CoPs) that are both established and emerging. These consist of colleagues who have similar interests, focused practices, or geographical practice locations. Established CoPs include members who provide maternity care and FPs who have or wish to include a long-term care panel in their practice.
- The Division often collaborates on events and opportunities to strengthen relationships with specialists in Vancouver.
Membership Involvement
The Vancouver Division of Family Practice invites Members to actively engage with the work of the Division.
Members are invited to join Communities of Practice (CoPs) to support colleagues and practice in Vancouver. Standing committee examples include:
- Maternity Care
- Long Term Care
- Mental Health and Substance Use
From time to time we actively recruit for Committee roles. Please check back here regularly for postings.
When you take part in the opportunities to engage in the work of the Division (e.g. serving on a committee, providing feedback to Division staff on projects and initiatives) members are recognized through remuneration for your time. Click here to download the Division’s EFT Form.
As a member of the Division, you are contributing to a greater impact through the collective voice of the organization to collaborate, influence, and impact change throughout the primary health care system.
This Code of Conduct sets out the minimum standard of conduct required of all Members of the Division (General and Associate) when participating in any events, meetings or other activities sponsored by the Division. This Code addresses the main relevant areas but is not designed to be exhaustive.
- Members shall deal with each other, and with Partners and staff of the Division, openly, honestly, truthfully and in good faith and shall always observe proper decorum.
- Members’ interactions shall be courteous, respectful, and free of animosity.
- Members shall engage in respectful communication, honouring opinions, and focusing on issues not personalities.
An important function of the Membership is to nominate and vote for your Board of Directors and participate in the Division’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The 2025 Elections & Annual General Meeting was held on October 16th. Please click here for the latest annual report.
Member Resources
Member Wellness
Peer Support
