Primary Care Physician

Primary Care Physician (MD/DO) – Job Description

Who We Are:

Herself Health is an Advanced Primary Care provider for women enrolled in Medicare. The concept was born out of a need to significantly improve the delivery and quality of primary care provided to this population and solve common challenges with the delivery of healthcare today, such as long wait times, rushed appointments, and care that is generalized, rather than personalized. We have a focus on women’s issues later in life (bone loss, weight fluctuation, changes in mental, social and emotional health). The concept and development of this company has been led by a successful venture-backed team and board with a well-established record of building “best-in-class” companies. The Twin Cities Metro areas of Minneapolis and St Paul, MN is the location for the company’s clinical launch.

What We Do:

At Herself Health, we believe in taking a bold approach to the care of women in their most self-defining years. From their mid 60’s, as they age, women may finally have the luxury of time for self-care, self-reflection and self-discovery. They often find a renewed purpose in life and can truly tap into the wellspring of wisdom and resilience they have built, allowing them to live their lives as fully as they aspire. We believe that trusted relationships are nurtured through effective communication and a sense of enduring connection. As healthcare providers, we strive to be our patients’ most trusted partners in their unique journeys through life. Our whole-person approach involves caring equally for the mind and body, while staying anchored in the value of “what matters most” to each individual. 

We use a team approach to care. As a highly trained and experienced group of professionals, we delight in working closely with each other, our patients, their loved ones, families and caregivers. We work hard to maximize overall wellness, preserve function, optimize health, and help each woman age with dignity and grace. Our team of experts aims to elevate our patients’ experience of healthcare by providing evidence-based, whole-person, coordinated, timely, cost effective and values-centric care. We espouse a joyful, respectful, non-discriminatory and non-judgmental approach to every interaction, whether with our patients or among ourselves.

The Primary Care Physician’s Role:

The Primary Care Physician (MD/DO) is a key member of our care team. S/he will evaluate our patients’ acute and chronic conditions, manage their multiple medications, mental health, social-emotional needs, and educate them in a thorough, professional and empathetic manner. The PCP will partner with and support fellow members of the care team in assessing, planning, and providing excellent patient care. Ensuring delivery of the highest quality care will be a fundamental expectation of this role, in accordance with the company’s core values and culture. 

While the PCP role’s primary focus on a daily basis will be to conduct patient visits related to acute and chronic condition management of our patients, our clinical team members will also assist with the development, implementation, management, and achievement of specific organizational objectives and metrics. As part of our value-based care model, our team of clinicians will proactively and strategically manage our population’s health in accordance with IHI’s Quadruple Aim, adopt best practices in Coding Compliance and achieve our HEDIS Quality Metrics, rooted in the tenets of Access, Quality Care and Patient Experience.

PCP Job Functions:

• Get to know every patient as a human being, understand their core values and goals of care. Provide whole person care consistent with those values. 
• Evaluate, diagnose and treat acute or chronic medical conditions and common psychological health conditions in women aged 65 and older.
• Prevention and care of specialized health conditions most prevalent in this age group, such as osteoporosis, arthritis, perimenopausal conditions, heart disease and others.
• Provide preventive health services, such as Medicare annuals, peri-operative care, comprehensive care and transition of care visits (hospital discharge follow up). 
• Elicit and interpret relevant patient history, symptoms, physical findings, and diagnostic work up to develop appropriate diagnosis and treatment plans.
• Order, interpret and appropriately use results of common diagnostics, such as blood tests, urinalysis, electrocardiograms (EKGs), mammograms and radiographs (x-rays). Perform pap smears and basic primary care procedures.
• Prescribe medications responsibly, based on evidence, efficacy, safety, and cost as legally authorized. De-prescribe potentially risky medications as appropriate. Optimize medication regimens to prevent and mitigate polypharmacy.
• Counsel patients about drug regimens and expected side effects or interactions. 
• Develop evidence-based treatment plans following widely accepted standards of practice and professional society guidelines.
• Educate and Coach patients on self-management of acute or chronic illnesses, evidence-based lifestyle and behavioral interventions to mitigate potential health risks.
• Tailor care and instructions to patients’ individual circumstances and preferred learning styles, involving family members in discussions where appropriate.
• Provide oversight and guidance to MAs and other staff regarding clinical care of patients 
• Actively monitor, evaluate and manage overall health of our patient population (population health) and strategically implement initiatives to improve quality of care delivered, reduce unnecessary utilization and costs to patients.
• Document, code and close patient charts in a timely manner. 
• Practice standards of appropriate coding for patient conditions, including HCC, and evaluation and management codes for billing.
• Respond to chart reviews, coding and billing audits in a timely manner.
• Provide and receive feedback on quality of care being delivered to ensure NCQA, HEDIS and other regulatory standards are met.
• Be an active and productive member of the care team, sharing on-call coverage with the rest of the team, caring for each other’s patients and responding appropriately to urgent messages or lab results as necessary during absences of team members.
• Efficiency and timeliness in keeping up with the flow of daily patient visit schedules, charting and follow up calls.
• Adhere to departmental policies, procedures and objectives, ongoing quality improvement objectives and safety, environmental, and infection control standards.
• Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with all federal and state health information privacy laws.

Core Education and Experience Requirements:

• Doctor of Medicine/MD or Osteopathic Doctor/DO degree from the 50 United States or Accredited Foreign Medical School, with proof of ECFMG certification.
• Completion of a 3 or 4 year Internal Medicine or Family Medicine Residency from an accredited ACGME Institution within the United States (required)
• Fellowship in Geriatrics (preferred) or another ABMS specialty like Endocrinology, Nephrology or Palliative Medicine may be considered on a case-by-case basis
• Experience in the practice of ambulatory Primary Care preferred (IM/FM/Geriatrics)
• Board Certification from the appropriate Medical Board (ABIM, ABFM) – Current and Maintained (MOC) including CME Requirements.
• Current, Active Physician (MD/DO) License from the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice or other state of primary practice with Herself Health.
• Active DEA Registration with controlled substances prescription authority within the state of Minnesota or other state of primary practice with Herself Health.
• American Heart Association (AHA) Accredited, Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification (required), Advanced Life Support (good to have). 
• A sound knowledge base of evidence based primary care geriatrics, behavioral health and medication management, with solid clinical skills and judgment to guide appropriate diagnosis and treatment of various chronic, complex and acute medical conditions.
• Knowledge and practice of Evidence-Based Preventive Healthcare Guidelines.
• Familiarity with Population Health and Experience in achieving Quality Metrics.

Essential “Soft-Skills” and Behaviors:

• Genuine interest in getting to know our patients as human beings. 
• Good understanding of human behavior, motivations and performance.
• “Customer service first” mentality and ability to meet and perform a thorough patient needs assessment, meet highest quality standards, and evaluate patient satisfaction.
• Excellent bedside manner and a high degree of professionalism.
• Superior communication and coaching skills to help effectively educate patients and engage them in shared decision making. 
• Keen ability to demonstrate empathy and lead through compassion.
• Ability to assess and address external factors that impact health and behavior. 
• Proven reliability, consistency, timeliness and responsiveness as a team member and healthcare provider to patients. 
• Strong team-player who communicates with team members clearly and collaborates effectively.
• Driven to make meaningful improvements to our services, processes and effectiveness.
• Driven to make fiscally responsible, cost effective and highest quality, value added care for our patients.
• Ability to be hands-on, adaptable, focused, flexible, data-driven, and results-oriented.
• Keen problem solving and decision-making skills.
• A “lifelong learner” mindset who leads by example and with a sense of curiosity and open-mindedness.

Other Requirements:

• All employees of Herself Health must be fully vaccinated for COVID19, including CDC-recommended qualified booster vaccines
• Eligibility to obtain or transfer DEA License and an NPI number for the state of Minnesota or appropriate state of practice for Herself Health
• Regular maintenance of board certification and CME requirements
• Passage of the pre-employment drug screen
• Passage of the pre-employment background check
• Passage of an N95 Fit Test
• Proof of current immunizations and/or titers and TB testing required for employment
• Eligibility and completion of credentialing
• Eligibility and completion of registration with Medicare and private payers
• Valid Minnesota Driver’s License
• Proof of US Citizenship or Eligibility to Work in the US with a permanent resident card

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