Attending Physician, Hospice & Palliative Community Support Hub

ATTENDING PHYSICIAN, HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE COMMUNITY SUPPORT HUB PALLIATIVE CARE

Contract Term Position (up to three positions available)

Anticipated start date: February 1, 2025 (or earlier)

Pilgrims Hospice Society (PHS) is a registered charity that provides supportive and compassionate family-centred care to enhance the quality and dignity of life for those diagnosed with a progressive, life-limiting illness as well as support to those who are grieving the death of a loved one, from any cause.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Medical Director, the Attending Physician will be responsible for providing medical care to residents in the hospice and to clients in the palliative community support hub program. Attending Physicians will liaise with the Medical Director, the Palliative Community Support Hub (PCSH) Leadership Team and other attending physicians to always ensure continuity of care and 24/7 physician coverage. Attending Physicians are supported by the Palliative Community Support Hub Manager and nursing staff.

In the Hospice, the Attending Physician will provide care in our residential hospice every four (4) to five (5) weeks for one week at a time. Attending Physicians will be expected to provide medical care for the twelve (12) residents at the Roozen Family Hospice Centre. Attending Physicians are expected to be onsite a minimum of five (5) days through a seven (7) day period, and for hospice admissions. The Attending Physician is required to be available by phone and text 24/7 while on Hospice service, Tuesday through Tuesday.

In the PCSH program, the Attending Physician will provide home visits to a minimum number of clients in the community who are unattached and require palliative care. Attending Physicians are expected to be available to home visiting clients, for in-person, or virtual visits, Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm. Attending Physicians must participate in the established on-call coverage of PHS PCSH patients, providing virtual advice with documentation to patients and families, home care, paramedics, or other health providers within one (1) hour of receiving a call. Coverage will include overnight and weekend responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensures hospice residents are seen as soon as possible upon admission, but within twenty-four (24) hours, completes BPMH and completes the Medical Certificate of Death upon the death of a resident in his/her care. Ensures new PCSH patients are seen as soon as possible upon adding to client panel.
• Reviews all hospice admission and PCSH new patient information including diagnoses, prognoses, medications, social history, current level of symptom control, family support, and other relevant information to ensure continuity of care in transitions between attending physicians.
• Provides primary palliative care to a minimum of ten (10) community clients in their home through the Palliative Community Support Hub (PCSH) program. Panel size may be expected to exceed the ten (10) personal minimum, should attending physicians be carrying stable clients who require minimal interventions. PCSH panel to be reviewed quarterly, or as needed for quality improvement with PCSH Leadership Team to ensure appropriateness of community clients and adjustments to client panel as necessary, including maintaining minimum levels. Charting may be reviewed by the Medical Director or PCSH Physician Lead to ensure sufficient standards of documentation are met.
• Participates in weekly in-person hospice resident rounds and updates the resident and family on any changes to the plan of care. Participates in weekly virtual PCSH rounds and updates the patient and family on any changes to the plan of care. Provides effective handover to designated Attending Physician(s) when leaving on an approved absence or vacation.
• Collaborates effectively with the hospice on-site nursing team of RNs, LPNs and HCAs to ensure excellent care is delivered within the hospice. Collaborates effectively with the PCSH nursing team of RNs and LPNs to ensure excellent care is delivered. PCSH nursing may be able to assist with virtual and in-person patient assessment on stable patients in accordance with staff availability and nursing standards of care. Must also collaborate with and be available to AHS or private home care providers to maintain effective patient care as per PHS standards.
• Awareness building of the residential care program with primary care physicians and specialists in the Edmonton Zone.
• Maintains current knowledge and practice in Palliative and Hospice Care. Participates in all formal education programs organized by PHS.
• Participates in Accreditation and all other audit processes.
• Collaborates with clinical pharmacy around medication management.
• Provides teaching to Medical Students and Resident Physicians, as organized by PHS. It is expected that teaching will occur on a reasonable basis. Additional learners may be taken on by the Attending Physician, if it will not conflict with formal electives organized through PHS.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Must be licensed and in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.
• Must have current knowledge and practice in Palliative and Hospice Care. Clinical practice must meet CPSA standards of practice at a minimum and reflect consistent palliative care principles as established by the Covenant Health Palliative Institute.
• Completion of LEAP (or expected completion within next three (3) months), required.
• Minimum "clinical lecturer" status (or higher) must be obtained with the University of Alberta (to take on learners at PHS) prior to contract start.
• Accreditation and audit experience, an asset.
• Must have a valid Alberta Driver's License and access to a vehicle for travel required within Edmonton and surrounding area.

TO APPLY: Send your resume and cover letter online via our recruitment portal at: Employment Opportunities - Pilgrims Hospice

Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Posting will remain open until January 15, 2025, or until a suitable candidate is found.

We thank all applicants for their interest however only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.