Full-Time Position 

Bilingual English & Spanish Preferred

Summary & Objective

The Palliative Care Physician provides high-quality care and treatment of patients served by Catholic Palliative Care Services (CPCS). Responsibilities include comprehensive, consultative palliative patient care, utilizing clinical expertise in decision making, while promoting the greatest quality of life for patients and caregivers. The Palliative Care Physician provides supervision, direction, guidance and support, as an active participant in the palliative interdisciplinary team. This requires leading symptom management for patients with serious illnesses and related conditions, and addressing vast, dynamic psycho-social needs of patients, families, and caregivers. 

Essential Functions

• Provide high quality consultative patient palliative care through hospital, nursing home, assisted living facility, home, or clinic visits as appropriate and as designated by the Medical Director.
• Provide clinical expertise and participate in interdisciplinary team decisions regarding diagnosis and medical management of patient/family needs, assuring that the highest quality of medical care is provided, and that continuity and comprehensiveness of care is maintained in a cost-effective manner.
• Demonstrate medical knowledge and maintain proficiency in primary medical field and in palliative and hospice medicine.
• Ability to identify and provide ongoing palliative assessment of the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of the patient and family and act accordingly or initiate appropriate intervention or referral.
• Demonstrate knowledge of palliative and hospice levels of care and Medicare and Medicaid Hospice Benefits. Provides appropriate documentation when the need arises.
• Utilize appropriate CPT and ICD-10 codes that are supported by medical documentation.
• Complete billing documentation and submission based on CPCS policies and procedures.
• Complete timely medical documentation on all patients seen by using the electronic health record.
• Adherence to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care, 5th Edition.
• Ability to interact with the public and other employees in a positive manner and promote a cooperative working environment.
• Ability to handle sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
• Able to identify and provide ongoing assessment of the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of the patient and family and act accordingly or initiate appropriate intervention or referral.
• Demonstrate knowledge of hospice levels of care and Medicare and Medicaid Hospice Benefits. Provide appropriate documentation when the need arises.
• Ability and willingness to work a flexible Full-Time schedule that may include weekends and holidays.

*Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Other Duties

• Provide inpatient and outpatient consultation services in palliative care.
• Conduct palliative visits as coordinated by administrative staff of CPCS.
• Review medical records and/or perform history and physical exams with appropriate documentation.
• Facilitate clarification of patient and family goals of care.
• Develop treatment plans and coordinate interdisciplinary palliative care.
• Ensure timely clinical documentation per CPCS policies and procedures.
• Attend and participates in CPCS Team Meetings as required.
• Ensure effective communication with the CPCS team members, physicians, staff, partners, and across Catholic Health Services (CHS) lines of business.
• Act as a consultant to attending physicians and members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Maintain liaison with community physicians.
• Participate in palliative activities and educational events such as support groups, community education, etc., as requested. 
• Assist in providing orientation to new employees.
• Participate with on-call rotations.
• Apply for and maintain medical staff privileges at hospitals in service, including CHS facilities.
• Apply for and maintain medical staff privileges at hospitals in service areas.
• Visit the patient and/or family in the event of an emergency or when requested.
• Responsible for on call emergencies, including weekends and holidays. 
• Remain current in knowledge about hospice and palliative care and dedicated to the provision of quality patient care.
• Ability to work within diverse social and economic situations without imposing own values.
• Able to consistently provide patient care in hospitals or other setting including home visits, pain management and palliative care consults.
• Encourage the reporting of suspected fraud and other improprieties.
• Provide orientation on a regular basis to new employees. 
• Ensure effective communication with Interdisciplinary Teams.
• Maintain your required licenses, certifications and mandatory skill updates.
• Comply with all policies, local, state and federal laws and regulations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility

• May serve as an interim department leader depending on need

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and push/pull up to 250+ pounds, walk, climb stair or ladders, stand on feet for extended periods of time, etc.

Disclaimer

The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time.

EEOC Statement

CHS provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Knowledge & Experience Requirements

• Medical Degree from an accredited School of Medicine.

• Must be an M.D. or D.O. with a Florida license or eligibility for a Florida license.

• Must hold a current DEA license.

• BC/BE in IM or FM and BC/BE in hospice and palliative medicine. Fellowship preferred.

• Minimum of one-year full time paid physician experience preferred.

• Minimum of one-year Hospice and/or Palliative care experience preferred.

• Proven ability to motivate, lead, and provide specialized medical direction in a team setting and in collaboration with other providers and administrators.

• Capability to manage complex pain/symptoms as well as chronic and life-threatening illnesses. 

• EPEC training preferred. 

• Must have knowledge of computer office/clinical software.

• Must be able to read, write and understand the English language.