Supportive/Palliative Care Opening for Physician @ Northeast Hospital

Supportive and Palliative Care Physician @ Northeast Hospital

Memorial Hermann Medical Group is seeking a licensed physician to join our Division of Supportive and Palliative Care team. Provider will be responsible for managing palliative care consultation and follow-up of patients with a variety of life-limiting illnesses (in the acute care setting).

Ideal for a candidate that is seeking a healthy work life balance in an employed and integrated health system. Candidates should also be able to effectively collaborate with advanced practice providers, nurses, case management, social workers, chaplains and other professionals to foster seamless care and maximize the quality of life for patients and their families.

This role focuses on Supportive and Palliative Care in the acute care setting.

• Licensed to Practice Medicine in the State of Texas
• Shift |Schedule – Days
• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
• Inpatient setting:
• Pain and Symptom Management
• Complex communication with patients and families on goals of care and/or advance care planning
• Collaboration with physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains and other specialists to provide patient centered care

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an accredited school of Medicine

Licenses/Certifications:

• Current state medical license
• Current Federal Drug Enforcement Agency license
• Board certified or Board eligible or equivalent experience
• Basic Cardiac Life Certification or Advanced Cardiac Life Certification
• Staff privileges at all the hospitals for which coverage is being provided

Experience / Knowledge / Skills:

• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Exhibits teamwork skills that facilitate interchange between multidisciplinary health care workers in order to provide quality patient care/outcomes
• Superior problem solving skills
• Is articulate and an active listener
• Addresses issues/concerns with the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System in a timely fashion

Principal Accountabilities

Palliative Care Accountabilities:

• Provides palliative care consultative services for members of the Medical Staff when such services are within the scope and designation of privileges for the Supportive Medicine Provider.
• Consults with the attending physician and the Interdisplinary team to establish a written plan of care.
• Participates in daily huddles with interdisciplinary teams regarding patient’s plan of care.
• Facilitates clarification of patient and family goals of care.
• Conducts pain assessment and provides appropriate pain/symptom management.
• Conducts assessment and refers patient or family to psycho-social and spiritual services as deemed appropriate.
• Conducts family meetings and identifies goals of care, surrogate decision makers, advance care plans with patient and family members.

Physician Accountabilities:

• Attends and actively participates in hospital multidisciplinary rounds on all patients when appropriate or requested when the supportive medicine service is in the co-management or consultative role.
• Provides timely evaluation of patients referred to the Supportive Medicine service in accordance with Medical Executive Committee bylaws.
• Abides and conforms to Hospital tenants, guidelines, and bylaws.
• Participates in on-call coverage as deemed appropriate.
• Provides physician to physician sign out for patients who are transitioning to post-acute facilities as deemed appropriate.
• Provides internal sign out at transitions of care consistent with standards of care.
• Participates in physician, nursing and staff education when solicited by CNO, CMO, or COO.
• Responds to clinical queries in a timely fashion.
• Documents History and Physicals within 12 hours to support professional billing for these services.
• Documents Discharge Summaries within 48 hours of discharge order.
• Maintains current understanding of the regulatory environment related to status and status patients consistent with national guidelines.
• Encourages in network utilization of resources for continuity of care unless specified by the patient or expertise is not available in the system. 
• Responds in a timely manner to pages and call back from nursing staff unless doing so would impact patient safety or experience.
• Provides additional coverage per campus protocol, in case of emergencies or disaster.
• Participates in continuing education activities to maintain or enhance knowledge and skills.
• Maintains ACLS certification.
• Communicates with the attending physician, nurse, family, and other treatment team members when appropriate, in order to obtain the appropriate patient care plan.
• Effectively communicates with treatment team in a timely and professional manner to provide quality psychiatric care to patients throughout the healthcare system.
• Complies with best practices and other care directives. 
• Follows Performance Improvement initiatives.
• Works with Memorial Hermann Physicians, Risk Managers, and Case Managers towards resolution of clinical, administrative or technical problems.
• Maintains patient confidentiality and adheres to MH compliance privacy policies.
• Ensures safe care to patients, staff and visitors; adheres to all Memorial Hermann policies, procedures, and standards within budgetary specifications including time management, supply management, productivity and quality of service.
• Promotes individual professional growth and development by meeting requirements for mandatory/continuing education and skills competency; supports department-based goals which contribute to the success of the organization; serves as preceptor, mentor and resource to less experienced staff.
• Demonstrates commitment to caring for every member of our community by creating compassionate and personalized experiences. Models Memorial Hermann’s service standards by providing safe, caring, personalized and efficient experiences to patients and colleagues.

A 255-bed facility, Memorial Hermann Northeast Hospital has been caring for families in the Lake Houston and Kingwood area for more than 30 years, offering world-class care close to home. Its affiliated doctors span a wide variety of disciplines. Additionally, Memorial Hermann Northeast serves as the official healthcare provider to passengers traveling through Houston’s George Bush International Airport.

As part of the Memorial Hermann Health System, Memorial Hermann Medical Group (MHMG) brings together many of Houston's leading providers under one organization for better coordination in healthcare delivery.

Established in 2006, the Memorial Hermann Medical Group (MHMG) includes primary care physicians, specialists and advanced practice providers who all share a single focus - to practice evidenced-based medicine in order to provide an exceptional level of collaborative, quality patient-centered care. With approximately 200 providers and over 60 clinics, MHMG creates the structure that facilitates this collaboration and mutual commitment toward common desired behaviors and outcomes.

Benefits of employment include a competitive compensation package with a productivity, bonus and comprehensive practice management that includes:

• Billing and Collections
• Insurance Contracting
• Branding/Marketing
• Human Resource/Staffing Support
• Leading-edge Information Technology

Click here to learn more about Memorial Hermann Medical Group

At Memorial Hermann, we are redefining healthcare. As the largest not-for-profit health system in Southeast Texas, Memorial Hermann has 16 hospitals and numerous specialty programs and services conveniently located throughout the Greater Houston area. Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center is one of the nation's busiest Level I trauma centers and the primary teaching hospital for The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School.

We offer leading-edge diagnostic technologies and treatment techniques as well as Houston's first health information exchange that shares vital patient data among care providers, helping to ensure patients receive the right care at the right time. We use resources to make a real difference in the health of our community, contributing in excess of $300 million annually in uncompensated care and community benefit programs, including an award-winning network of public school-based health centers.

Our medical staff physicians and employees practice evidence-based medicine and are committed to rigorous performance measurement and quality-improvement activities. This relentless focus on quality and patient safety continues to result in national awards and recognition. For our 5,500 affiliated physicians and our 21,000 employees, it means exercising uncompromising commitment to deliver the best healthcare possible.

Alive with energy and rich in diversity, Houston, Texas is a dynamic mix of outstanding performing and visual arts venues, local teams representing all major sports, countless restaurants offering a variety of excellent cuisine and world-class attractions. With a vibrant economy, Houston is home to thriving businesses include growth in high-technology industries, medical research, health care and professional services. Houston is known internationally as the home of one of the best medical communities in the world with the Texas Medical Center (TMC), the largest medical center in the world, only 10 minutes from downtown Houston. With its beautiful surroundings, mild year-round climate, low cost of living and high quality of life, Houston, TX has much to offer.

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