Geriatrics/Hospice and Palliative Care Physician

Department of Veterans Affairs • Fayetteville, NC

46d

About The Position

The role of the Hospice and Palliative Care Physician within the Department of Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) is to oversee clinical and administrative staff, Palliative Care Outpatient Consult Clinic and Inpatient Palliative Care Clinic. This Physician will provide leadership for the hospice and palliative care consults practices in the inpatient/outpatient setting at the Fayetteville VAMC. They will be academically and clinically prepared to perform a broad spectrum of patient care services at the expert level. In addition to providing primary health care, they serve as a consultant to nursing and medical staff for patients with complex treatment or care needs in the home. This physician works collaboratively with other interdisciplinary team members in providing quality care and patient education, participating in research activities, and assisting patients in acute and chronic rehabilitation techniques. In addition, they will serve on medical center, VISN and/or national committees and assists in the development, evaluation and communication of policies and standards of advanced nursing practice. The incumbent will provide coverage in Community Living Center (CLC) and support Non-Institutional Care (NIC) including taking calls as needed and other duties as assigned as well as providing coverage for other departments within Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC).

SCOPE OF ASSIGNED DUTIES:

Primary care includes assessment, diagnosis, treatment and outcome measures of healthcare problems. This includes the following: initiating and adjusting therapeutic regimens, performing histories and physicals, ordering diagnostic and therapeutic tests/studies, initiating consultations and referrals, and prescribing medications/supplies in accordance with VA policy, VA formulary, state regulations and scope of practice. Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience, and creative approaches to management of complex patient care.

This physician will provide preventive medical care including screening; collaborates with nursing personnel in the care of patients; monitors the program to assure quality of care and meets performance measures. Duties may include weekends, off tours and holiday coverage. Palliative Care Physician will provide cross coverage for CLC Medical Director and Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) Program Director. The Palliative Care Physician may also be required to act as the Chief of Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) when needed and other duties assigned within GEC.

The incumbent is encouraged to have a faculty appointment and be involved in academic activities. When HBPC sites are not successful in recruiting a provider, the Physician will act as HBPC Medical Director.

The Hospice and Palliative Care Physician will maintain on-time evaluations of new consults in the Palliative Care Clinic. The Physician will provide medical oversight of the Hospice Care Inpatient Unit. The Physician will support the Chair of Ethics, Hospice and Palliative Care, and Dementia Committee. The Physician will also take lead on the Remembrance Ceremonies for Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) veterans, while supporting chaplain services. And other duties assigned within GEC.

The Geriatrics/Hospice and Palliative Care Physician is accountable to the Chief of Geriatrics and Extended Care and Chief of Staff.

Requirements

• 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory

Nice To Haves

• Faculty appointment
• Involved in academic activities

Responsibilities

• Oversee clinical and administrative staff
• Provide leadership for the hospice and palliative care consults practices in the inpatient/outpatient setting
• Perform a broad spectrum of patient care services at the expert level
• Serve as a consultant to nursing and medical staff for patients with complex treatment or care needs in the home
• Work collaboratively with other interdisciplinary team members in providing quality care and patient education, participating in research activities, and assisting patients in acute and chronic rehabilitation techniques
• Serve on medical center, VISN and/or national committees and assists in the development, evaluation and communication of policies and standards of advanced nursing practice
• Provide coverage in Community Living Center (CLC) and support Non-Institutional Care (NIC) including taking calls as needed and other duties as assigned as well as providing coverage for other departments within Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC)
• Initiating and adjusting therapeutic regimens, performing histories and physicals, ordering diagnostic and therapeutic tests/studies, initiating consultations and referrals, and prescribing medications/supplies in accordance with VA policy, VA formulary, state regulations and scope of practice
• Provide preventive medical care including screening
• Collaborates with nursing personnel in the care of patients
• Monitors the program to assure quality of care and meets performance measures
• Provide cross coverage for CLC Medical Director and Home-Based Primary Care (HBPC) Program Director
• Act as the Chief of Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) when needed and other duties assigned within GEC
• Maintain on-time evaluations of new consults in the Palliative Care Clinic
• Provide medical oversight of the Hospice Care Inpatient Unit
• Support the Chair of Ethics, Hospice and Palliative Care, and Dementia Committee
• Take lead on the Remembrance Ceremonies for Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) veterans, while supporting chaplain services
• Other duties assigned within GEC

Benefits

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP)
• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases
• 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME)
• Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
• Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement (must be full-time with board certification)
• Free liability protection with tail coverage provided
• No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Administration of Human Resource Programs
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees