Physician- Palliative Care

Veterans Health Administration • Salt Lake City, UT

20h

About The Position

The Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Physician provides high-quality, patient-centered care to Veterans through Primary Care Service clinics and programs as assigned. These may include Home Based Primary Care, Geri PACT, Geri Assessment, Goals of Care, and outpatient and inpatient palliative services. The physician provides clinical input and oversight for treatment plans, collaborates with care-team members, and ensures care is evidence-based, timely, and delivered in an appropriate setting. The role includes cross-coverage within approved privileges and oversight of delegated care activities performed by Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, PharmDs, and other practitioners with a scope of practice.

Administrative responsibilities include attending staff meetings, communicating clinical and administrative concerns to the medical director or Section Chief, arranging and communicating coverage during leave, meeting attendance and training requirements, participating in chart reviews and process-improvement initiatives, responding promptly to critical test notifications and consults, and completing required documentation in CPRS within established timeframes. The physician also facilitates consultation, follows up on consultant recommendations, and addresses infection-control matters.

The physician is expected to maintain an academic appointment at the University of Utah School of Medicine and help Medical Directors with UME/GME education activities. Responsibilities include orienting trainees to service rotations when applicable, teaching, coordinating and monitoring educational activities, and ensuring appropriate trainee supervision. Physicians are expected to demonstrate compassionate and effective patient care, medical and clinical knowledge, practice-based learning, strong communication and professionalism, and understanding of system-based practice. The physician must remain privileged and practicing in their specialty, with privileges and procedures approved by the Professional Standards Board.

The work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

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 eligibility for board certification, or an applicable alternative training and independent-practice pathway described in the announcement.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English.
• U.S. citizenship, except that non-citizens may be appointed when qualified citizens cannot be recruited in accordance with VA policy.
• Must meet physical standards for the position and pass a pre-placement physical examination.
• Must complete required background/security investigation and onboarding requirements; applicants tentatively selected for testing-designated positions are subject to pre-employment urinalysis.
• Must participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program and may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Must remain privileged and practice in the specialty field, with exact privileges and procedures approved by the Professional Standards Board.
• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must meet Selective Service registration requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Board certification is preferred.
• Experience in palliative care and/or hospice is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide patient-centered care to Veterans through assigned primary care, geriatrics, and palliative care clinics and programs.
• Provide clinical input and oversight for patient treatment plans and collaborate with team members when medical or other problems arise.
• Ensure care is evidence-based, timely, and provided in an appropriate setting.
• Document patient visits and complete encounters and notes in CPRS within required timeframes.
• Facilitate consultations and implement consultant recommendations as appropriate.
• Address infection-control issues, including skin testing, immunization, and infection prevention.
• Provide cross-coverage for clinical services within approved privileges.
• Oversee delegated care activities performed by Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, PharmDs, and other practitioners with a scope of practice.
• Attend staff meetings and communicate administrative and medical issues to the service medical director or Section Chief.
• Arrange coverage during leave and communicate coverage plans to team members and leadership; comply with leave and attendance requirements.
• Serve as backup for other palliative care providers as needed.
• Participate in chart review and process-improvement initiatives.
• Complete required training, employee health, and Environmental and Occupational Committee requirements.
• Respond promptly to critical laboratory or diagnostic test notifications and consults; complete required documentation, including cosigning trainee notes, in a timely manner.
• Maintain an academic appointment at the University of Utah School of Medicine.
• Support Medical Directors' UME/GME education activities, orient trainees to service rotations when applicable, teach, coordinate and monitor educational activities, and ensure appropriate trainee supervision.

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 a possible five-day paid absence for CME.
• 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 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