Physician III Staff Physician

Job Description:
Physician III
Come work in an environment where we truly value and respect those we serve and believe in the mission that all people can achieve a higher level of wellness and independence.
The state supported living centers serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are medically fragile or who have behavioral problems. The centers provide campus-based direct services and supports at 13 centers located throughout the state.

The state of Texas offers many benefits to employees. HHSC is a qualifying organization for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives the remaining balance on college student Direct Loans after making qualifying monthly payments. We also offer excellent health benefits, a lifetime monthly retirement annuityas well as (k) and Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas.
If you are looking for a place to work where you can establish a career that is filled with purpose, this is the job for you
The Staff Physician at the State Supported Living Center (SSLC) performs highly advanced medical work, ensures and oversees the delivery of high quality, integrated medical services to individuals with intellectual disabilities served by HHSC State Supported Living Centers (SSLCs). Diagnoses and treats individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who also have complex medical, psychiatric and/or behavioral health needs. Provides and monitors medical services for assigned caseload. Develops health care plans with measurable goals, objectives and interventions and oversees and monitors their implementation. Participates in treatment team process, advocates for the medical needs of individuals served, and collaborates with the individuals’ families, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), Physician Assistant(s) and with consultants and community medical providers in other medical specialty areas. Provides direction and guidance to the treatment team to solve complex medical issues impacting individuals’ health and wellbeing. Completes required reports and medical documentation. Identifies and communicates trends or issues and recommends solutions. Provides treatment to HHSC employees injured in course and scope of employment. Participates with other members of the medical services department in initiatives to obtain full compliance with the terms of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Settlement Agreement. Shares on-call duty with other qualified medical staff. Works under the limited supervision of the Medical Director of the SSLC and with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
Essential Job Functions:
Attends work on a regular basis and may be required to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned. May serve in an on-call status on a rotating schedule as required to meet operational needs of the facility.
Delivers, and monitors the delivery by others of, high quality medical services to individuals with intellectual disabilities served by SSLCs in accordance with current accepted medical practices. Diagnoses and treats individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities who also have complex medical, psychiatric and/or behavioral health needs. Provides direction and guidance to the treatment team in medical issues and ensures health care plans are properly implemented. Monitors the health care trends of individuals and updates treatment strategies and plans as indicated. Ensures medical treatment is properly integrated.

Oversees and monitors the long-term health status of individuals. Provides chronic care to individuals, which includes a quarterly assessment for individuals with identified chronic health care diagnosis, a review of appropriate treatment specific to the disease process and update or change of medical treatment as warranted and monitoring of the chronic condition. Writes prescriptions and performs medication reviews, within the scope of his/her licensing credentials and training expertise. Reports any significant trends or issues which occur to the supervisor and provides suggestions for action based upon their expertise. Performs or refers out specialized medical treatments and procedures. Coordinates with specialty clinics and oversees the treatment provided, ensuring integration.

Oversees and ensures the daily health and wellbeing of individuals. Provides acute care to individuals, including daily assessment for acute health problems or injury in the clinic and/or infirmary and oversees the provision of medical services by other staff such as APRNs, PAs, RNs, and LVNs. Performs daily routine sick call clinics for assigned units to include evaluation of illness, injury, and abuse/neglect. Provides direction to nurses providing treatments during sick call as necessary. Performs required treatment and prescribes medication when indicated.

Participates in interdisciplinary planning conferences and personal support team meetings for individuals that reside at the State Supported Living Center and provides medical information to parents/guardians as appropriate. Provides medical diagnosis and the review of the treatment plan at the Individual Service Plan (ISP). Evaluates the efficacy and progress of a patient's treatment plan and makes changes as indicated. Provides direction and guidance to the treatment team to solve complex medical issues impacting individuals’ health and wellbeing.

Develops accurate and timely documentation, which includes annual summaries and pre-procedural histories and physicals, documentation of specialty medical consultation, physical and chemical restrains and all acute and chronic patient care. Prepares annual medical reports for the residents with complete assessment and yearly objectives and laboratory analysis. Monitors medical trends for individual patients and for the SSLC as a whole and provides leadership to correct deficiencies.

Refers and consults with the admitting physician at the local hospital when necessary. Reviews documentation for individuals returning from the hospital to ensure continuity of care. Follows up on any treatment or medication changes made while at the hospital.

Works collaboratively with other members of the medical services department to obtain full compliance with the terms of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Settlement Agreement. Assists in identifying trends and issues. Provides input into improvement plans for SSLC medical services, including improvements to policy and procedures, new forms of treatment and the need for new/advanced equipment.

Provides treatment to HHS employees injured in course and scope of employment when needed.
Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.
Knowledge Skills Abilities:
Knowledge of methods and procedures in the field of general medicine and of the principle of the development, implementation, and documentation of individualized care and treatment plans.
Knowledge of medical jurisprudence.
Knowledge of, or ability to learn, ICF-IID standards, certification requirements for the Council on Quality and Leadership, HHSC policies and procedures, and the Department of Justice Settlement Agreement.
Skill in the care and treatment of patients and in the use of medical diagnostic and treatment tools and equipment.
Experience in medical work - practicing medicine.
Skill to maintain maximum well-being of individuals on campus and in general when hospitalized.
Ability to respond to campus medical emergencies as needed and when on-call.
Ability to communicate with nurses, direct care staff and interdisciplinary team members.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, and to work in harmony with individuals, employees, peers, family members, and medical/non-medical professions in the community.
Ability to evaluate patients and implement an effective course of treatment in coordination with other interdisciplinary personnel.
Ability to maintain required continuing medical education hours.

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