Palliative Care Physician

Give your passion a purpose – join our amazing team!

Joining the Lower Cape Fear LifeCare team means embarking on a journey where your passion finds purpose every day. As an award-winning nonprofit hospice and palliative care provider nestled in the scenic beauty of Wilmington, NC, we've been dedicated to serving individuals and families for over 40 years across southeastern North Carolina and northeastern South Carolina.

What makes us stand out? Our commitment to your well-being and growth:

Fast-Track Benefits Activation: Health, dental, and vision coverage kick in first of the month following 30 days into your journey with us, ensuring your peace of mind and health are top priorities from the start. Low-Cost and No-Cost Health Insurance Plans: There are plenty of options to tailor our health insurance plans to meet your needs, including a free employee-only health plan option. Virtual Health Care Options: MediOrbis offers unlimited virtual doctor visits and mental health services at absolutely no cost to you with our healthcare plans.Embrace Work-Life Harmony: You’ll earn 27 paid days off during your first year as a full-time employee, because we believe in nurturing your personal time to recharge and thrive.Fuel Your Ambitions: Pursue your educational dreams with our tuition reimbursement program, providing up to $5,000 annually to fuel your career growth and aspirations. We’re also a qualified employer under the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.Secure Your Future: We've got your back with company-paid life and long-term disability insurance, ensuring your peace of mind and security for you and your loved ones.Retirement Made Bright: Invest in your future with our 403(b) Retirement Plan, featuring a generous 50% employer match on the first 4% contributed to start with. As your tenure grows, so does your employer match! Plus, you're fully vested after just three years.Recognition That Matters: Your contributions don't go unnoticed here - we celebrate your milestones and successes every step of the way! Through our partnership with AwardCo, we recognize and appreciate your hard work and dedication with meaningful rewards and recognition programs. Thriving in a Supportive Culture: Our culture is rooted in collaboration, compassion, and respect. We foster a supportive environment where every team member is valued, heard, and empowered to make a difference. Together, we create a community that not only cares for our patients and families but also uplifts and supports each other. Join us and become a part of a culture that fosters growth, camaraderie, and meaningful connections.

Job Summary

The Hospice/Palliative Care Physician is responsible for the medical component of the hospice and palliative care program. Acts in the capacity of hospice team physician overseeing the medical components of care to hospice patients in all settings and acting as attending physician for patients as required. Performs consultative services to patients and families with life limiting illnesses; helps to determine and implement policy concerning the medical component of the hospice and palliative care program and services; supervises direct medical care of midlevel providers. Participates in after-hours call coverage for home patients and inpatients. Acts as a resource to the medical community and community at large regarding end-of-life issues and provides education regarding pain and symptom management.

Primary Job Duties

Fulfills duties and responsibilities of the hospice team physician for patients as required by the Hospice Medicare Benefit, the Hospice Medicaid Benefit, and others if necessary. Performs hospice and palliative medicine consultation services for patients and families in a variety of settings and provides overall direction and coordination of the patient’s palliative care plan working with other members of the hospice care team and supervises care provided by midlevel providers. Assists in planning, research, performance improvement helping to determine and implement policy concerning the medical component of the hospice and palliative care program. Educates community physicians regarding state of the art end-of-life care. Organizes and performs work effectively and efficiently. Maintains and adjusts schedule to enhance program performance. Demonstrates positive interpersonal relations in dealing with all members of the team. Maintains and promotes customer satisfaction. Effectively demonstrates the mission, vision, and values of Lower Cape Fear LifeCare on a daily basis. Participants in after-hours call schedule rotation to ensure 24-hour cover of patient care.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Education: Graduate of an accredited school of medicine or osteopathy with a degree in medicine or osteopathy. Licensure/Certifications: Current North Carolina/ South Carolina practicing physician licensure, valid driver license; credentialed member of hospital staff. Experience: Has completed an accredited residency program and has at least five years of experience in end-of-life care or maintains a board certification by ABHPM or will sit for the first available board examination for Hospice and Palliative Medicine administered within six months of hire. Essential Technical/ Motor Skills: Knowledge about the psychosocial, spiritual, ethical and medical aspects of hospice care, including knowledge of symptom assessment and management in the terminal stages of disease states; assessment in a timely manner of relevant patient information upon referral for Hospice care; ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from regulatory agencies; ability to respond to inquiries or complaints from physicians, clients, family members, and members of the business community; ability to effectively present information to management, public groups, and the Board of Directors. Interpersonal Skills: Sound communication skills, including group work and conflict resolution; collaborative problem-solving skills; management leadership skills, especially in coordination, evaluation, and planning; ability to analyze trends knowledge of stress management; knowledge of patient rights and responsibilities, including ethical considerations with referral to the Ethics Advisory Committee when indicated; knowledge of safety issues related to specific diagnosis and patient care setting; ability to respond to inquiries or complaints from physicians, clients, family members, and members of the business community. Essential Physical Requirements: Ability to use upper body adequately for writing, teaching and providing direct patient care. Essential Mental Abilities: Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care and staff needs; ability to teach staff of varying educational backgrounds, ability to prioritize duties, learn new skills and use supportive services appropriately demonstrate long and short-term memory; high-level problem solving and reasoning skills for use in patient care and problem resolution. Essential Sensory Requirements: Ability to use sight to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care, review documents, etc.; ability to use hearing to communicate, patient assessment, etc. ability to use sense of smell for patient assessment, safety issues, etc. ability to use sense of touch for patient assessment. Exposure to Hazards: Potential exposure to blood and blood borne pathogens, body fluids, sharps, and infectious disease. May encounter patients and other situations which present a potential threat to personal safety. May encounter temperature changes and weather extremes. Other - Hours of Work: Flexible. Population Served: Patient populations with life-limiting disease. Driving: Will be required to drive. Must have reliable transportation. Will be subject to the Safe Driver Policy.