Inpatient Hospice Physician

Why VITAS Healthcare and What Do They Offer Me?

VITAS Healthcare is the nation’s leading provider of end of life care. We provide our employees opportunities for professional growth, advancement and competitive benefits.

The physician has the responsibility for the medical care and treatment of patients rendered by the hospice interdisciplinary team (IDT) and shall consult and cooperate with the patient’s attending physicians. The physician provides direction and guidance to the staff and volunteers of the hospice IDT to assure the maintenance of quality standards of care for patients and families. Actively participates in the clinical education and training for hospice patient care, admissions, and administrative personnel.

VITAS Healthcare is the nation’s leading provider of end of life care. We provide our employees opportunities for professional growth, advancement and competitive benefits.

Benefits Include

• Competitive compensation
• Health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
• Pre-tax healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Life insurance
• 401(k) plan with numerous investment options and generous company match
• Cancer and/or critical illness benefit
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Assistance Program
• Legal Insurance
• Affinity Program

Physician Job Description

The physician has responsibility for the medical care and treatment of patients rendered by the hospice interdisciplinary team (IDT), and shall consult and cooperate with the patients' attending physicians. The physician provides direction and guidance to the staff and volunteers of the hospice IDT to assure the maintenance of quality standards of care for patients and families.

The physician educates practicing physicians and others engaged in health care services regarding the hospice program and its potential benefits to patients.

Direct Patient Care

• Participates in the evaluation and certification/recertification of the terminal prognosis for patients on the team, at indicated intervals.
• Participates in the development of the initial plan of care (IPOC) as a member of the IDT.
• Participates in the development, implementation, and ongoing revision of the comprehensive plan of care.
• Provides accurate and timely documentation of all patient care services provided.
• Participates in ongoing revision of the comprehensive POC when a patient is being cared for at a general inpatient level of care, including review of patient appropriateness for continued inpatient management.
• Intervenes proactively, as required, when there is a possible revocation, and reviews all revocations with the other members of the IDT.
• Provides medical expertise on an ongoing and timely basis to admission and patient care staff on issues and challenges involving evaluation of terminal prognosis and pain and symptom management.

IPU Physician Responsibilities

• The covering physician must be available including in-person at the inpatient unit if necessary to discuss care plans with families, answer questions, and address any concerns. A best practice would be to designate time each day of the week for this activity, so that staff can offer a time for families to meet and communicate with the physician. Participates in the evaluation and certification/recertification of the terminal prognosis for patients on the team, at indicated intervals.
• The physician is expected to see each patient daily. Adequate time must be spent for each encounter every day at the inpatient level of care, which should include the following:
  • Review of the medical record, including what lead up to the IPU stay and what has transpired over the stay and in the last 24 hours;
  • Detailed review of medication usage with necessary adjustments to treatments;
  • A history and physical commensurate to the patient’s needs; and
  • Communicate and coordinate care with other team members.

Community Relations

• Educate community physicians on the principles of palliative medicine.
• Provide resource and consultative support to community physicians in hospice and palliative medicine.
• Attend and present at medical staff and other medical community conferences on hospice and palliative medicine.
• Serve as liaison between the hospice and community physicians.
• Make regular contacts with practicing physicians to introduce the hospice program, to educate physicians regarding individuals for whom hospice may be appropriate, and to answer clinical and other concerns of physicians with respect to hospice.
• Assist in introducing the VITAS program to long term care providers, managed care providers, hospitals, and others.

LICENSE AND EDUCATION

• Licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy in the state in which the program is operating.
• Board eligible/certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Internal Medicine, Family Practice, or other related specialty with a working knowledge of the principles of palliative medicine and symptom management.
• If physician will be providing inpatient care, membership in good standing on the medical staff of the hospital or hospitals in which the hospice inpatient care is provided.
• Registration with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to prescribe all schedules of controlled substances with no restriction as to the location of practice.
• If applicable, state controlled substance certification or registration for the state in which the hospice program is operating.
• Actively participates in the clinical education and training for all hospice patient care, admissions, and administrative personnel.
• Attends and satisfactorily completes all VITAS orientation and physician training programs, which may include ongoing physician training meetings.
• Demonstrates on going competence in the principles of and current development in palliative medicine.
• Is a member of and participates in professional organizations related to palliative medicine.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATE

• EOE/AA M/F/D/V