Saint Francis LIFE is seeking a full-time Geriatric Medicine, Internal Medicine or Family Medicine physician to join its Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) organization located in New Castle County, Delaware.

The PACE model is centered on the belief that it is better for the well-being of seniors with chronic care needs and their families to be served in the community whenever possible. PACE serves individuals who are age 55 or older, certified by their state to need nursing home care, able to live safely in the community at the time of enrollment and live in a PACE service area. While all PACE participants must be certified to need nursing home care to enroll in PACE, only about 7 percent of PACE participants nationally reside in a nursing home. If a PACE enrollee needs nursing home care, the PACE program pays for it and continues to coordinate the enrollee's care. We encourage fellowship and independence while serving seniors and their families with dignity and respect.  Delivering all needed medical and supportive services, PACE is able to provide the entire continuum of care and services to seniors with chronic needs while maintaining their independence in their home for as long as possible.

The physician provides primary medical care to participants, including assessment, development of a plan of care in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, provision of direct participant medical care, and evaluation of effectiveness of the plan of care; functions in a collegial relationship with the other health care professionals, making independent decisions regarding medical needs and health regimens; carries out medical procedures as indicated.

Responsibilities for this opportunity include, but are not limited to:

• Participate as a member of the interdisciplinary team (IDT) and in initial, semi-annual, unscheduled, and annual assessments; attend morning updates and report changes in participants baseline status to appropriate staff on a daily basis.
• Provide initial and ongoing participant assessments, care plan development, and implementation of care plan.
• Integrate the primary care treatment plan into the overall plan of care developed by the interdisciplinary team. Interacts with team members to meet emergent and acute need of participants.  Evaluates and treats participants during acute illness. 
• Refer participants to medical specialist as indicated. Manages all care of participants in the nursing home: Provides regular visits to manage the care of participants in the nursing home in collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Team; maintains communication with nursing home staff for continuous monitoring of PACE participants on a case-by-case basis; admits nursing home participants to hospital when necessary.  Oversees and manages participants use of medical specialist and inpatient care.  Communicates and follows up with specialist regarding outcome of visit.
• Complete documentation and uses appropriate diagnostic coding.
• At the direction of the Medical Director reviews medical outcomes/statistical and utilization data, including reviewing of necessity of hospitalizations, and use of specialists. When problems are identified he/she works with the Medical Director to establish best practices and works with clinical staff and interdisciplinary team to make appropriate procedural and or operational changes to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and improve the health of participants.

Requirements for this opportunity include, but are not limited to:

• Medical Degree or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree; current and active plenary physician license to practice in state of Delaware; CDS Certification and DEA Registration required; current BLS required.
• Minimum of one (1) year of documented experience working with a frail or elderly population.
• Interest in frail older adults and knowledge of their physical, mental, and social needs.
• Effective skills in physical assessment and chronic disease management for frail older adults.
• Desire to work in a creative alternate health care setting.
• Able to manage changing priorities according to participant needs.
• Possess interpersonal skills to drive collaboration, commitment and productivity when working with cross-functional teams, customers, and end users. Must be comfortable functioning in a virtual, collaborative shared leadership environment. 

This is an exciting opportunity for the right physician to join the team at Saint Francis LIFE.

RECRUITMENT PACKAGE

Saint Francis LIFE provides a competitive compensation and benefit package that complements this opportunity for personal growth and professional advancement.