Physician - Hospice and Palliative Care (H&PC)

Veterans Health Administration • Las Vegas, NV

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Hospice and Palliative Care (H&PC) Physician is an integral member of the Las Vegas / Southern Nevada HealthCare System’s integrated inpatient and outpatient H&PC program. The physician works closely with a multidisciplinary Palliative Care Team that includes palliative care physicians, nurses, a social worker, and a chaplain. The position provides care consistent with local and national VA Hospice and Palliative Care Program requirements, VA directives and regulations, and national consensus guidelines for quality palliative care.

The physician assesses, diagnoses, and treats patients; obtains histories and performs physical examinations; orders diagnostic and therapeutic tests; initiates consultations and referrals; and prescribes medications and supplies. The role includes managing complex medical conditions, co-morbid behavioral health illnesses, pain-management issues, and psychosocial conditions in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. The physician provides hospice and palliative care consultations in acute care, outpatient, and home health settings, and communicates with Medical Center staff and external contacts to support care transitions, quality care, and patient satisfaction. The physician implements strategic care plans to facilitate access to quality-of-life services and participates in provider assignments and coverage in collaboration with the Chief of Geriatrics and Extended Care. The physician serves as a direct staff provider within the Department of Geriatrics and Extended Care as assigned and provides resident care within established clinical privileges, scope of practice, competencies, and qualifications.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is an open continuous announcement with a closing date of January 26, 2027; applicants are reviewed every two weeks. The VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package, including competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases, paid time off, retirement benefits, insurance, possible CME reimbursement, and malpractice liability protection with tail coverage. There is no Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine from an appropriately approved or accredited institution.
• Current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
• Completion of qualifying residency training in an accredited core specialty program leading to board-certification eligibility, or an alternative training and independent-practice pathway specified in the announcement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when recruiting qualified citizens is not possible under VA policy.
• Subject to background/security investigation; selected applicants must complete onboarding and required application documentation.
• Complete TB testing and immunization evaluations and participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.
• Applicants tentatively selected for a testing-designated position are subject to pre-appointment urinalysis; refusing testing results in denial of VA employment.
• May be required to serve a probationary period.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in palliative and hospice care.
• Experience in geriatric medicine.
• Palliative and hospice fellowship.

Responsibilities

• Provide care consistent with local and national VA Hospice and Palliative Care Program requirements, VA directives and regulations, and national quality palliative care guidelines.
• Assess, diagnose, and treat healthcare issues; obtain histories and perform physical examinations; order diagnostic and therapeutic tests or studies; initiate consultations and referrals; and prescribe medications and supplies.
• Manage complex medical conditions, co-morbid behavioral health illnesses, pain-management issues, and psychosocial conditions in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
• Provide hospice and palliative care consultations in acute care, outpatient, and home health settings.
• Communicate clearly and completely, both directly and electronically, with Medical Center staff and external contacts to facilitate patient transitions, quality care, and customer satisfaction.
• Implement strategic care plans to facilitate utilization of and access to quality-of-life services.
• Participate in medical provider assignments and department coverage in collaboration with the Chief of Geriatrics and Extended Care.
• Provide resident care services within established clinical privileges, scope of practice, competencies, and qualifications.
• Serve as a direct staff provider within the Department of Geriatrics and Extended Care as assigned.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree