County Physician - Primary Care - Health & Social Services Division

Salary: $185,251.00 - $231,564.00 Annually
Location : HAMILTON COUNTY HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES, Chattanooga, TN
Job Type: FULL TIME
Job Number: 05/04/2026 - 1621
Division: HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES DIVISION
Department: Primary Care
Opening Date: 05/04/2026
Closing Date: 6/7/2026 11:59 PM Eastern


Description
The Hamilton County Health & Social Services Division has a responsibility to respond quickly and efficiently when public health emergencies occur. All Hamilton County Health & Social Services Division employees are responsible for ensuring their contact information is current and they are accessible should a public health emergency arise. The Hamilton County Health & Social Services Division maintains a call down system to store contact information and mobilize staff in the event of an emergency. During a public health emergency, all staff are required to respond should a call to mobilize be made. During a public health emergency, work hours for any and all Hamilton County Health & Social Services Division employees are subject to modification to meet the needs of the community.
Under general supervision, provides medical care to patients and clinical and/or administrative oversight of health department programs.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS : (Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following tasks, physical requirements, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics. This list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents of this class.)
This is a Fair Labor Standards Act defined Exempt Position - Exempt positions are excluded from minimum wage, overtime regulations, and other rights and protections afforded nonexempt workers. The employee in this position is paid a salary rather than an hourly wage for this position. FLSA does not limit the amount of work time an employer may require or expect from any exempt employee, on any schedule. Hamilton County Government expects an employee in this position to complete the work assigned regardless the amount of hours involved in completing the tasks assigned

Tasks
Provides focused care for children, adolescents, and adults as well as primary care across all Health Department locations including office care, sick care and well patient checkups; diagnoses and treats diseases and injuries; orders medical tests and reviews test results when appropriate; provides patient counseling; provides appropriate referrals to other health care providers when appropriate. Provide direct medical care, (primary care, chronic disease management, acute care), to underserved populations.
Provides strategic leadership, clinical oversight, and direct patient care tailored to individuals experiencing homelessness. Develop clinical policies, mentor medical staff (physicians/NPs), ensure Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) compliance, promote trauma informed care, manage quality improvement, and collaborate with community partners to address social determinants of health.
Supports epidemiological responses to disease events, emergency response events; works with Infection Control and employee post exposure events.
Assists the County Health Officer in clinical and administrative responsibilities of the Health Department.
Maintains all appropriate clinical files, records and credentialing and privileging requirements; performs internal audits of medical charts for completeness and accuracy. Establish, update, and implement medical policies, protocols, and procedures in compliance with regulations.
Develops and maintains liaison activities with community health providers, hospital staff and local specialists and practitioners.
Provides medical leadership and support for various Health Department committees.
Recruit, train, and mentor physicians, nurse practitioners, and clinical staff, including peer reviews. Collaborate with the board and executive leadership to align clinic goals with the needs of the homeless population.
Provides clinical updates and presentations as appropriate.
Provides medical back-up to the County Health Officer and other county physicians.
Provides medical supervision of nurse practitioners; provides parental counseling; provides counseling to patients on wellness; illness and preventative care; may provide after-hours call coverage if necessary.
Works with the community to promote childhood immunizations and improve vaccination rates.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics
Knowledge of professional practice of medicine laws, rules, regulations, practices and procedures.

Knowledge of professional medical practice in area of assignment or specialty.

Knowledge of safety and health laws, rules, regulations, practices and procedures.

Knowledge of public health laws, rules, regulations, practices and procedures.

Knowledge of medical equipment, materials and supplies utilized in the practice of medicine in assigned area.

Knowledge of customer service/public relations practices and procedures.

Knowledge of counseling methods practices and procedures.

Knowledge of maintaining patient medical records.

Knowledge of social, psychological, and physical needs of people experiencing homelessness.

Skill referring patients for additional medical care or other community resources.

Skill providing medical care and assistance to patients who may be upset, argumentative, or non cooperative.

Skill utilizing verbal and written communication in counseling patients and parents, and family members.

Skill instructing and utilizing universal health and safety precautions in the practice of medicine.

Skill providing oversight to other medical staff.

Skill in clinical mentorship.

Skill utilizing customer service techniques in responding to inquiries and complaints.

Skill establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.

Skill effectively communicating in both oral and written form.

Ability to provide respectful, culturally sensitive care to a diverse population.

Minimum Qualifications
Graduation from an accredited school of medicine with State of Tennessee medical license and DEA registration. Must have completed residency in Family Practice or in Internal Medicine and must be board certified or eligible for board certification in Family Practice or Internal Medicine. A valid driver's license is required.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Prior to operating a County-owned vehicle, all employees are required to complete the HC Defensive Driving course and/or an Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) provided at the department level.
This position is deemed essential/situational during inclement weather situations and must report to or remain at work, even when administrative closings are announced, as determined by the Department Head.
Experience working with underserved, vulnerable, or homeless populations.
Experience with Electronic Medical Records (EMR).
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Study in the field of Family Practice preferred.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS :
Work requires risk of exposure to infectious diseases or difficult situations during clinic site inspections or while providing direct medical care services to patients. Work requires managing multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION :
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
All positions within Hamilton County Government are considered work in-person and require regular and punctual attendance.
All positions within Hamilton County Government may require work on Holidays or weekends. Additionally, irregular hours and shift work may be required, including possible extension of shift hours, at times with short notice.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Hamilton County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability in employment or the provision of services. A copy of Hamilton County's Equal Employment Opportunity Plan (EEOP) & Utilization Report is available on the County's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Office home page.




Hamilton County Government

Meeting the needs of the people where they live, work, and play!
Hamilton County, Tennessee offers a lower cost of living, ease of getting around, a lively arts tradition, and abundant outdoor recreational opportunities.
Working for Hamilton County Government provides many great benefits - take a look at a few of those highlighted below...
On-Site Employee Health Clinic

• No copay to utilize clinic services.
• Clinic services include routine office visits, sick visits, labs, flu shots, and more
• TextCare - Access to care 24/7 via TextCare, which is direct, unlimited access to medical care 24/7 through text message.

(Employee access to the clinic is available from day one. A covered spouse or dependent has access as soon as their health plan coverage is effective. Children age 3 and up who are covered by the County's insurance are eligible to be seen.)

• Telehealth - Two-way, real-time interactive communication between the patient and a practitioner through telecommunications, which may include audiovisual options.
• One to One Provider Network - Availability to utilize a network of providers that provide a high level of care at a lower copay/cost.
• Health Management Programs - Offered to help employees and their family members in managing the following health conditions: Asthma, Diabetes, Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), and Hyperlipidemia (High Cholesterol)
• Nutritional guidance - Nutritional education provided to assist in making the appropriate food /health choices.

On-Site Employee Pharmacy

• Low-cost prescriptions available to those covered under the County health plan.
• Over the counter items offered at cost.
• RxLocal App - Mobile app provides a convenient way to stay connected and manage your health. Through the app you can request refills and ask questions.
• On-site Pharmacist available to answer questions and provide information.

Hamilton County Government offers competitive insurance coverage to fulltime employees.
Medical coverage is offered through Cigna to fulltime employees. The County pays a generous portion of the medical premium. Two options are available to choose from: LCP (Local Cost Plus) and OAP (Open Access Plus).

• The LCP has a smaller network that includes most providers and hospitals, with the exception of Parkridge facilities/providers.
• The OAP is a national network of facilities/providers that includes most providers/hospitals, including Parkridge.

Dental coverage is a voluntary benefit available to fulltime employees. Three coverage options are offered: Cigna High Plan, Cigna Low Plan, and Sun Life DHMO.

• The Cigna High Dental Plan covers orthodontia for children up to age 18. A national network of dental providers is available to choose from and this plan offers out of network coverage.
• The Cigna Low Dental Plan does not cover orthodontia. A national network of dental providers is available to choose from and this plan offers out of network coverage.
• The Sun Life DHMO plan is a prepaid dental plan that offers benefits through a network of plan dentists. A dental provider must be selected when enrolling and services must be provided by that provider for benefits to apply.

Life Insurance/Accidental Death and Dismemberment is provided through Symetra. The County provides $30,000 of Basic Life/Accidental Death and Dismemberment coverage at no cost to fulltime employees.


Additional voluntary benefits fulltime employees have access to enroll in are as follows:

-Individual Short-Term Disability (STD) -Voluntary Long-Term Disability (LTD)

-Flexible Spending Account-Health Care -Flexible Spending Account-Dept. Care

-Flexible Spending Account-Transportation -Accident Insurance

-Critical Illness Insurance -Hospital Indemnity Insurance
Hamilton County Government Retirement for Fulltime Employees:

Pension - Legacy Plan (hired prior to 10/1/2015), in which the employer contributes 14.70%.


Pension - Hybrid Plan (hired on or after 10/1/2015), in which the employee contributes 5% and the employer contributes 4%.


401K - Employer contributes 5% and the employee can contribute the amount of their choice.


457b - Employees have the option to contribute to this plan if they choose.
Pre-Retirement Seminar:

Hamilton County Human Resources provides a pre-retirement seminar to those considering retirement, two times per year (1st and 3rd quarter of each year). Seminar topics covered may include:

• Health insurance assistance, Medicare info and counseling.
• Internal steps to take when an employee is ready to retire.
• Estate Planning
• Personal Financial Planning
• TCRS (Tennessee Consolidated Revenue Service) - Ham. County Pension
• Deferred Compensation/457 Plan - Nationwide
• Social Security Benefits

Parental Leave:

Hamilton County provides eight (8) weeks of paid maternity leave and two (2) weeks of paid paternity leave following the birth of a child or placement of a child with an employee in connection with adoption (age 13 or younger) or foster care.
Paid Time Off :

Hamilton County Government provides generous paid time off (PTO) to fulltime employees from the start of employment.

• Years 1 - 5: an employee will accrue 5.85 hours of leave, per pay period.
• Years 5 - 10: an employee will accrue 6.77 hours of leave, per pay period.
• Years 11-15: an employee will accrue 8.31hours of leave, per pay period.
• Year 15 and each year thereafter, an employee will accrue 8.93 hours of leave, per pay period.

At each anniversary, an employee can roll over up to 80 hours of unused PTO into their leave bank. (Up to 800 hours for employees hired on or after 1/1/2013).
Paid Holidays:

Hamilton County Government provides thirteen (13) paid holidays to fulltime employees.

New Year's Day Independence Day


M.L. King's Birthday Labor Day

President's Day Veteran's Day

Good Friday Thanksgiving (2 days)

Memorial Day Christmas (2 days)

Juneteenth
Wellness Facility:

Hamilton County Government provides a 24/7 fitness center, free of charge, to County employees and family members (age 14+) covered under the County's health plan. The fitness center offers cardio and strength-training equipment, along with group exercise classes throughout the year. (which may include Zumba, spin, yoga, etc.)
01


To meet the minimum qualifications for this position, applicants must have graduated from an accredited school of medicine with State of Tennessee medical license and DEA registration. Must have completed residency in Family Practice or in Internal Medicine and must be board certified or eligible for board certification in Family Practice or Internal Medicine. A valid driver's license is required.Do you meet all of the minimum qualifications for this position?

• Yes, I meet all of the minimum qualifications for this position.
• I meet some of the minimum qualifications for this position.
• No, I do not meet the minimum qualifications for this position.

02


What is your highest level of education completed?

• I do not have a GED or High School Diploma.
• GED
• High School Diploma
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctoral Degree

03


If you indicated you possess a degree, please tell us the field of study your degree is in.
04


How many years of direct work experience do you have in Family Practice or Internal Medicine?

• No experience
• Minimal, less than one year.
• 1-2 years
• 2-3 years
• 3-4 years
• 4-5 years
• 5-6 years
• 6-7 years
• 7-8 years
• 8-9 years
• 9-10 years
• 10 years or more

05


How would you describe your skill level using Microsoft Outlook?

• No experience - I am unfamiliar with Microsoft Outlook.
• Basic- I occasionally use Microsoft Outlook at my current (or at a previous) job.
• Average - I use Microsoft Outlook at least once a week at my current (or at a previous) job.
• Advanced - I use Microsoft Outlook daily at my current (or at a previous) job.

06


How would you describe your skill level using Microsoft Word?

• No experience - I am unfamiliar with Microsoft Word.
• Basic- I occasionally use Microsoft Word at my current (or at a previous) job.
• Average - I use Microsoft Word at least once a week at my current (or at a previous) job.
• Advanced - I use Microsoft Word daily at my current (or at a previous) job.

07


How would you describe your skill level using Microsoft Excel?

• No experience - I am unfamiliar with Microsoft Excel.
• Basic- I occasionally use Microsoft Excel at my current (or at a previous) job.
• Average - I use Microsoft Excel at least once a week at my current (or at a previous) job.
• Advanced - I use Microsoft Excel daily at my current (or at a previous) job.

08


Are you currently board certified or eligible for board certification in Family Practice?

• Yes
• No

09


Are you currently board certified or eligible for board certification in Internal Medicine?

• Yes
• No

10


Have you completed a residency in Family Practice?

• Yes
• No

11


Have you completed a residency in Internal Medicine?

• Yes
• No

12


Do you have direct work experience in developing and maintaining liaison activities with community health providers, hospital staff and local specialists and practitioners?

• Yes
• No

13


Do you direct work experience that required you to provide oversight to other medical staff?

• Yes
• No

14


Are you fluent in both English and Spanish? This is not a requirement for the position.

• Yes
• No

15


Do you possess a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

16


Have you ever served in the United States Armed Forces?

• Yes
• No

17


The answers you provide in the "Supplemental Question" portion of the application will be used to review/process your application. Once this job posting closes, your answers to the supplemental questions cannot be changed. Have you reviewed your answers and verified they are correct?

• Yes
• No

Required Question