Primary Care - Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician

Primary Care Physician

Under the direction of the Chief Medical Officer, but with independent responsibility for professional results the Physician provides primary healthcare services for Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, Inc. (CHC), and to perform related work as required.

It is the primary purpose of CHC to provide the highest quality of total care possible to the patient population it serves. Such a level of quality depends ultimately on the staffs desire and ability to work together, individually, and as a team. The employee is expected to be professional, punctual, maintain regular attendance, cooperative, organized, and enthusiastic at all times.

Duties assigned by the Chief Medical Officer include, but are not limited to, the following activities and may be adjusted based on patient and clinic medical service requirements:

• Secures and evaluates a patient's health history and records findings in a systematic, accurate and succinct manner.
• Performs a physical assessment and is able to discriminate between normal and abnormal findings.
• Provides routine physical examinations, diagnostic services and treatment of illnesses and emergencies.
• Adheres to the highest standards of medical ethics at all times.
• Assures quality of care for all patients.
• Shares on-call duties, when indicated, with other members of the medical staff.
• Elicits and records information about patient's medical history.
• Examines patient to determine general physical condition.
• Orders or executes various tests, analyses, and diagnostic images to provide information on patient's condition.
• Analyzes reports and findings of tests and of examination, and diagnoses condition.
• Administers or prescribes treatments and drugs.
• Inoculates and vaccinates patients to immunize patients from communicable diseases.
• Advises patients concerning diet, hygiene, and methods for prevention of disease.
• Reports births, deaths, and outbreak of contagious diseases to governmental authorities.
• Refers patients to medical specialist or other practitioner for specialized treatment.
• Performs minor surgery.
• Conducts physical examinations to provide information needed for admission to school, consideration for jobs, or eligibility for insurance coverage.
• Assists the Chief Medical Officer in establishing medical policies, evaluating existing policies and developing changes in policies as necessary; designing, implementing, and evaluating education programs for patients and staff.
• Shares supervisory responsibilities of the nurse practitioner with the Clinical Director as required.
• Works within privileges and protocols as established by the Chief Medical Officer.
• Participates in committees as requested by the Chief Medical Officer.
• Demonstrates adherence to and observes all safety policies and procedures, inclusive of infection control rules and regulations.
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served (infants, pediatrics, adolescent, adults or geriatrics).
• Demonstrates knowledge of domestic violence, child, and dependent and elder abuse protocols.
• Maintains and adheres to HIPAA, confidential and privileged communications (patient, employees, and corporation).
• Participates in patient population management as it relates to clinical services while taking into account cultural diversity and local resources.
• Participates in the team member's care coordination by providing follow up phone calls post hospital discharge, Assists the patient with follow up appointments within the recommended time frames and gather data from recent hospital admissions to facilitate follow up.
• Understands the role in self-management support by developing a relationship with high risk clients and anticipate what needs they may encounter. Develop the ability to refer to an RN when clinical judgment is in question.
• Develop communication skills with all members of the team both internal and external, by first being a patient advocate and use the available resources to facilitate care. Coordinate with the Care Team (PCP, RN, Health Educator, LCSW, Director of Nursing and/or Chief Medical Officer) to ensure appropriate services are arranged for the patient in order for them to meet their goals.
• Understand the role in the quality improvement process which may include meetings, data collection and charge auditing. Use Evidence Based Practice guidelines to assist with disease management.

May supervise mid-level providers at the direction of the Chief Medical Officer.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Medical Doctor Degree (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) from an accredited medical school. Completion of a residency training program in the field Family Practice, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN or Pediatrics, required. Board Certified or board eligibility required. Maintains current knowledge in Family Practice, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN or Pediatrics through continuing medical education, participation in local and national medical societies.

Language Skills

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints. Bilingual (English and Spanish) ability to speak, read, write Spanish desirable.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to interpret bar graphs.

Reasoning Ability

Authoritative knowledge of the principles, practice and techniques of family-centered medicine. Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Possession of current unrestricted and valid License - Physician and Surgeon or equivalent from Medical Board of California. Board Certified/Eligible Family Practice, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN or Pediatrics, required. Possession of current unrestricted and valid DEA license, Advanced Cardio Life Support (ACLS) for FP/IM, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) card for PEDS; and Basic Life Support (BLS-C) card for all specialties. Annual health examination; annual TB skin test clearance or biannual chest x-ray, and up to date immunizations for health care workers at time of hire and annually thereafter.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Must be willing to have a flexible work schedule that may include late evenings and weekends, and be able to travel to other clinic sites or locations as needed.