Hospice Physician (MD/DO) - Texas
3 months ago
Abilene
Job DescriptionHospice Physician (MD/DO)Position Summary The Hospice Physician provides medical oversight and direct patient care for individuals with life-limiting illnesses, focusing on comfort, symptom management, and quality of life. This role emphasizes compassionate, patient- and family-centered care while collaborating with an interdisciplinary hospice team to support patients throughout the end-of-life journey. Essential Duties and Responsibilities • Provide medical evaluation and ongoing care for hospice patients in home, inpatient, or facility-based settings, • Manage pain and complex symptoms including dyspnea, nausea, anxiety, delirium, and terminal agitation, • Collaborate with interdisciplinary hospice team members including nursing, social work, chaplaincy, and therapy services, • Certify and recertify hospice eligibility in accordance with regulatory requirements, • Develop and oversee individualized plans of care focused on comfort and quality of life, • Participate in family meetings and goals-of-care discussions, • Provide clinical guidance and support to hospice nursing staff and advanced practice providers, • Participate in after-hours or on-call coverage as required, • Maintain accurate and timely clinical documentation, • Participate in quality improvement, patient safety, and compliance initiatives, • Comply with all regulatory, accreditation, and professional standards Qualifications • Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from an accredited medical school, • Completion of an accredited residency program (Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Geriatrics, or related specialty), • Board-eligible or board-certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine preferred, • Ability to obtain and maintain unrestricted state medical licensure, • DEA registration or eligibility Skills and Competencies • Expertise in symptom management and end-of-life care, • Strong communication and interpersonal skills, • Ability to conduct sensitive discussions with patients and families, • Commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care, • Ability to work effectively within interdisciplinary teams Work Environment • Patient homes, hospice inpatient units, nursing facilities, and community-based settings, • Call responsibilities as determined by hospice program needs Physical Requirements • Ability to travel to patient care locations, • Ability to sit, stand, and move throughout care environments Must maintain state certification and/or licensure.