Physician - Hospice

Interim HealthCare Hospice, owned and operated by Saint Andrew’s Abbey, is a new hospice agency operating in Bakersfield, CA looking to build a team of compassionate caregivers who will join us in our mission. We recognize all people are created in the image of Christ and we are committed to serving the dying and their families by offering love, compassion, and dignity on the journey home to God.

We have a unique opportunity in our agency as a Hospice Physician. We are looking for individuals who are interested in providing compassionate care to our patients and their loved ones.

General Purpose:

To supplement hospice physician services and/or in the absence of the Hospice Medical Director, may act as the physician representative of the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG), providing medical direction, including the care provided in the home, general inpatient care, emergency services and respite care related to the terminal condition.  May be responsible for the hospice patient’s medical care and act as the primary medical resource to the IDG, providing medical coverage and support during and after normal business hours, as well as making visits to patients for medical assessment and intervention whether in a facility or the home.

Essential Functions:

• Certifies in writing that each individual considered for admission to hospice or each patient considered for the continuing hospice care is terminally ill in accordance with applicable law, regulation, hospice policies and procedures, contact provisions or the patient’s benefit requirements.
• Provides oversight of physician services to hospice patients by complementing attending physician care and ensuring continuity of hospice medical services including appropriate management of patient pain and symptoms related to the terminal condition.
• Documents an individual patient’s progression in end-stage disease in the patient/family record as appropriate.
• Maintains medical staff privileges in good standing at the facility(ies) providing short term inpatient care to hospice patients.
• Ensures qualified physician participation in the initial development and ongoing review of the IDG Plan of care, and that the plan of care is developed prior to the delivery of hospice services.
• Actively participates in IDG meetings, including the update of each patient’s comprehensive assessment and plan of care as often as a patient’s condition requires and in accordance with applicable law and regulation.
• When needed, participates in:
• The development, implementation and review of clinical protocols;
• Patient continuing care decisions;
• The development of procedures and the related oversight of the provision, adequacy, appropriateness and coordination of short term inpatient care, emergency services and respite care;
• The quality assessment and performance improvement program (QAPI);
• The resolution of patient/family or hospice program clinical and ethical disputes or concerns; and
• The continuing education of the IDG, volunteers, and affiliated physicians and employees of associated inpatient facilities.
• Acts as a patient’s physician to meet general medical needs, including pain and/or symptom management or other medical intervention should a patient’s attending physician not be available or chooses to relinquish responsibility for a patient’s care.
• Acts as the liaison to community physicians.
• Completes other assignments as requested and assigned.
• Has access to and ability to disclose personal health information (“PHI”) necessary to fulfill the above duties and responsibilities and as defined by each organization.

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements:

• A doctor of medicine or osteopathy.
• Current license in good standing in the State of California.
• Board certified in a related specialty, preferred.
• Hospice/palliative experience, preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Knows the applicable law, regulation and contract provisions associated with terminal illness certification for hospice admission or for continuing hospice care.
• Ability to work as a member of the Interdisciplinary Group.
• Knowledge of and commitment to hospice philosophy of care and palliative intervention.
• Ability to effectively communicate with clinical and non-clinical staff, patients and family/caregivers as well as the medical community.
• Meets applicable health requirements to provide patient care.
• Meets the requirements of applicable federal, state and organizational background checks.

Working Conditions & Physical Effort: 

• Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.
• Able to occasionally travel locally to make patient visits.
• Occasional exposure to communicable diseases, blood borne pathogens and/or potentially infectious or hazardous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment.
• Able to stretch, bend, stoop, twist, stand, sit, walk, and reach freely.
• Able to work on-call hours as needed.
• Able to occasionally lift and carry up to 50 lbs., in order to carry out daily job functions and related activities that may be required.