One of the messages we heard from the results of the 2025 South Island MSA Well Doc Canada Physician Wellness Survey is that the role and scope of the MSA is a bit of a mystery. Over the next several weeks, we’ll use the newsletter to share some FAQs that – we hope – will help to demystify the organization. If we don’t answer your questions, please ask them directly to us!
What is the South Island MSA?
The South Island Medical Staff Association is the ~1,300 physicians, midwives, nurse practitioners, and dentists who are privileged to work at Royal Jubilee Hospital and/or Victoria General Hospital.
Who leads the South Island MSA?
There is an elected Executive team of 7 physicians. To be on the Executive, you must have Active privileges at RJH and/or VGH, and must not hold an Island Health leadership position.
Why do Medical Staff Associations exist?
The Hospital Act S56.3.e enables “the establishment of medical staff organizations and other bodies comprised of persons to whom permits are issued under paragraph (d) and the promulgation, by a board of management, of bylaws or rules governing those organizations or other bodies.”
How many MSAs are there?
The Medical Staff Association of Island Health (a.k.a. the Health Authority MSA or HAMSA) consists of all members of the medical staff across the Island. Local Medical Staff Associations exist at each hospital. There are 11 local MSAs on the Island, of which the South Island MSA is one. The local MSAs operate in support of the HAMSA.
This is a lot. Is this all written down somewhere?
So glad you asked! YES – everything you need to know is documented in the Island Health Medical Staff Rules and the Island Health Medical Staff Bylaws. These documents are essential reading.
What are the Island Health Medical Staff Bylaws?
- The Bylaws outline the relationships and the responsibilities between the Board of Directors and the individual members of the medical staff acting collectively as the Medical Staff Association.
- They set out the rules under which we work in the facilities and programs operated by the Board of Island Health
- The Bylaws also outline the ground rules under which patient acre and standards are organized, and how we can offer practice or clinical advice to the Board.
- They also state the Board’s obligation to support the medical staff by providing “adequate and appropriate” resources
- The MSA is the vehicle through which the medical staff as a whole can give feedback to or raise matters for the attention of the Board.
- The Bylaws are established when adopted by the Board of Directors and approved by the Minister of Health of British Columbia.
- All medical staff are required to sign their agreement to the Medical Staff Bylaws before working with Island Health. (Did you know you’ve signed on to these?)
What are the Island Health Medical Staff Rules?
- The Rules outline the details of the organization of the medical staff and the day-to-day processes by which the medical staff provide patient care.
- They are established by the Board of Directors upon the recommendation of the Health Authority Medical Advisory Committee (HAMAC) and the Medical Staff.
- The Rules do not require approval from the Minister of Health.
- All medical staff are required to sign in agreement to the Medical Staff Rules before working with Island Health. (Did you know you’ve signed this agreement?)
What is the purpose of the South Island MSA?
The South Island MSA is a Local Medical Staff Association (LMSA) that supports the medical staff who have privileges at Royal Jubilee Hospital and Victoria General Hospital.
Who are the Medical Staff?
It’s not just physicians who make up the Medical Staff, it’s also the Registered Midwives, Nurse Practitioners, and Dentists who are privileged to work in the facility.
What are privileges?
As defined in the Island Health Medical Staff Bylaws, privileges are “a permit to practice medicine, dentistry, midwifery, or nursing as a nurse practitioner in the facilities and programs operated by the health authority…Privileges describe and define the scope and limits of each practitioner’s permit to practice in the facilities…”
Is the MSA part of Island Health?
Not at all. It’s a standalone organization that (in short) speaks for the medical staff in general and for the medical staff member in particular. Think of the MSA as a ‘lower case u’ union for medical staff when it comes to Island Health.
Sorry, what?
Speaks for the medical staff in general: The MSA advocates for ALL medical staff. If there’s an issue that touches on the majority of medical staff, the MSA will bring it on members’ behalf to the attention and (hopefully) action of the Heath Authority.
Speaks for the medical staff member in particular: The MSA can also advocate for any of its individual members. For example, if you’re facing disciplinary action, a member of the MSA can support you in that process.
Okay, the MSA advocates for all medical staff with Island Health. How?
Your MSA Executive dedicates a lot of time and effort to represent you at Island Health tables such as SIMAC (South Island Medical Advisory Committee), HAMAC (Health Authority Medical Advisory Committee), the Island Presidents’ Network, and HEC (Health Authority Medical Advisory Committee Executive Committee). Your voice is also represented at the Legislative Committee, the Transparency and Communications Working Group, the IHealth Regional Council, and other ad hoc committees.
Where can I find out what happens at those meetings?
HAMAC minutes are posted on the Intranet. IHealth Regional Council minutes as well as any notable issues or updates are shared through our weekly newsletter. Our quarterly South Island MSA meetings are a great place to get caught up on everything. If you’re ever feeling out of the loop, contact us and we’ll happily bring you up to speed.
That’s a whole lot of meetings. Are the MSA Executives paid for their time?
Yes, members of the MSA Executive receive a stipend for their service. Your annual dues go to support these stipends. Where appropriate, Exec members are also compensated for FE-related work through Facility Engagement funds.
Facility Engagement? What the heck is that?
Through the Physician Master Agreement (PMA), Doctors of BC has negotiated funds to support facility-based engagement among physicians and between the physicians and the health authority. The South Island MSA receives these funds annually through a mirror organization, the South Island Facility Engagement Initiative Society, and allocates it to many types of engagement work, as guided by its Working Group.
Come on – give us the details. What kind of engagement work?
A significant portion of the funds support physician-led engagement projects. But we also enable docs to have one-on-one conversations with Health Authority leaders, to come together as a group to define their strategic goals for clinical work, to work with other departments to refine workflows or overcome issues, and to create ways to (hopefully) improve a group’s wellbeing. We also offer events, learning opportunities, and support.
I received a notice to pay my dues. What’s up with that?
By holding privileges and RJH and/or VGH you are automatically a member of the South Island MSA and the Victoria Medical Society, for which dues are collected jointly. You pay dues based on your level of privilege. The South Island MSA portion of your dues supports Executive stipends as well as other items that FE Funding cannot pay for. You must be a member in good standing to access Facility Engagement dollars.
What is the difference between the South Island MSA and the Victoria Medical Society?
The two organizations are complementary. The Victoria Medical Society (VMS) was established in 1895, and its members include MSA members as well as community-based practitioners. In addition to annual events like the Listerian Oration, the VMS collects and stores historical artifacts and is working to restore the Pemberton Memorial Operating Room.
This is all very interesting. How can I learn more or get involved?
Our weekly newsletter is a great place to start. It links to our website, which is the best way to stay on top of events, meetings, news, and resources.
The South Island MSA has general meetings in January, May, and September, as well as special meetings when needed. Please be sure to come network, learn, and contribute – the Executive needs to hear your voice to be able to best represent you!
If engagement is more your thing, we’re always looking for new members to join our Working Group, our Physician Wellness and Social Committee, and our Planetary Health Committee.
November is when the Victoria Medical Society, the South Island MSA, and the South Island FEI Society come together for their Annual General Meeting evening. This is a great time to hear about what each organization has accomplished over the past year, as well as learn about what future plans look like. This is also when elections are held, so a great time to put up your hand if you’d like to become hands-on.
Still have questions? We’re here to answer them.