J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit

The J.A. Hildes Northern Medical Unit (NMU) is committed to delivering much needed health care and improving the quality of life of predominantly aboriginal people in rural and remote areas of Manitoba and Nunavut.

At the NMU we have a patient centred team approach to care where input is valued from each member. Physicians, specialists, nurses, community health representatives, and other community service workers all work together to provide health care and promote the good health of community members.

Three communities are hospital based and employ full-time physicians and nurses and are visited by Specialists and other health care providers.

Other communities provide health care delivery through Nursing Stations. Family Physicians, Specialists, and other health care providers either "fly-in" or "drive-in" to these communities. Renal Health Care Nurses live in Garden Hill providing dialysis treatment.

• Family Physicians, Specialists, and Sub-Specialists Specific: Many of our physicians blend their urban practice and/or family life with the opportunities offered by the NMU. We welcome part-time contributions as it fits into the individual's lifestyle; whether that be private practice, emergency, hospital employment, or retirement. For instance we have some family physicians who combine MSF missions with work for us; others might "fly-in" to a community 1 or 2 weeks out of a month (a week is flying-in on a Monday morning and flying-out on the Thursday evening). Specialists might make 1 trip a year or 12 with days of stay varying. Some physicians do not even live in Manitoba but will periodically fly-in from other Provinces. Whatever the unique situation we can find a place for everyone!
  
  
• Program Specific: Health Care Providers in programs such as the Diabetic Foot Program and Retinal Screening split their time between visiting northern communities a few days at a time and living in Winnipeg. They also travel, attending conferences and courses as well as present at workshops/conferences. Therapists working for our Re-hab Program live in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut where ancient Inuit traditions co-exist with modern.
  
  
• If you are a health care provider interested in a mission with organisations such as Doctors Without Borders (MSF); northern medical experience with the NMU prepares for low/no technology health care delivery in third world settings.
  
  
• Excellent experience in primary and secondary care, community health, and cross-cultural aspects of health care delivery
  
  
• Access to resources of the University of Manitoba
  
  
• Program nurses have a sense of autonomy
  
  
• The landscape
  
  
• The interesting people you meet (patients and other health care providers)