Physician - Home Based Primary Care - Chico

Job Title

Hospice And Palliative Care Section Physician

Job Description

The Northern California Healthcare System serves veteran patients across Northern to Central California at 13 care facilities and 10 community-based outpatient clinics. The Hospice and Palliative Care Section within this system provides comprehensive Palliative Care Consultations within the Sacramento VA Medical Center Acute Care Hospital and through outpatient clinics housed within the Sacramento VA Outpatient Clinic, the Martinez VA Outpatient Clinic, and the Stockton VA Outpatient Clinic. The Hospice and Palliative Care Section also services a 16-bed inpatient hospice unit at the Martinez Community Living Center. The HBPC team physician, in collaboration with the HBPC team, is responsible for:

• The Hospice & Palliative care (HPC) medical director works under and reports to the ACOS for Geriatrics & Extended Care (GEC).
• Serves as a member of the Geriatrics & Extended Care Medical Staff and of the GEC Oversight Committee, attending assigned meetings, helping to assure adherence to its bylaws, rules, and regulations.
• Participates in establishing and maintaining policies, procedures and guidelines designed to assure provision of adequate, comprehensive, and timely services to Hospice & Palliative care programs throughout the NCHCS.
• Monitors and evaluates the quality of medical services as an integral part of the overall quality assessments and improvement program and assuring compliance with JC and Long-Term Care Institute (LTCI) requirements, as they pertain to Hospice and Palliative care.
• Provides clinical and administrative oversight to ensure the adequacy and appropriateness of the medical care provided to patients in HPC programs throughout the NCHCS.
• Works collaboratively with the HPC Program Coordinator to formulate program-specific report cards and performance measures and to assist in the analyses and completion of action plans specific to palliative care programs.
• Works with the HPC Program Coordinator to liaise with VISN and National HPC leadership.
• In conjunction with the HPC Program Coordinator, chairs the Hospice and Palliative Care Subcommittee.
• Oversees and directly supervises an interdisciplinary team of staff, including but not limited to physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and administrative support assistants.
• Works to timely address and complete appropriate suspenses, patient advocacy concerns, White House and Congressional inquiries, and OIG requests.
• Conducts focused and ongoing peer evaluations for staff, participates in Peer Review inquiries, and completes staff performance evaluations.
• Coordinates clinical coverage and call responsibilities for HPC programs.
• Mentors and provides orientation to new employees joining the Palliative Care Section.
• Serves as HPC consultant as necessary to the providers throughout GEC programs.
• Participates in educational didactics both formally and informally for HPC fellows and other trainees.
• Provides comprehensive palliative care consultations and/or hospice services through the role of HPC Attending physician.
• Other duties and roles as required.

US Department of Veterans Affairs