Medical Officer (General Practice)

PLEASE NOTE - This position may require temporarily relocation to other TONHC Facilities: Sells Hospital, Santa Rosa Health Center, San Simon Health Center, and San Xavier Health Center.

Position Summary

A physician performs and provides diagnosis, care, and treatment of inpatients, ambulatory care patients, and emergency patients for the full range of clinical scenarios. In addition, as an expert licensed provider, the incumbent is responsible for the direct and indirect specialized child, adolescent, and adult services and administrative duties, including continuing education.

Scope Of Work

This position may be organizationally located in Tohono O'odham Nation Sells Hospital or in any TONHC health center. The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Clinical Director, who provides administrative oversight. Incumbent functions with considerable independence during the course of patient care.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: (Depending on the area of assignment, an incumbent may not be required to perform some of the duties listed below):

• Performs and provides care to patients primarily in ambulatory clinic and inpatient settings; provides patient care and consultation in the Emergency Department as needed.
• Interviews and examines patients, reviews past medical history, and requests and performs diagnostic tests and examinations.
• Makes preliminary diagnosis, recognizing rare and difficult to identity symptoms or signs.
• Directs, prescribes, or provides a complete treatment regimen or arranges for specialized care or patient referral as necessary.
• Note of observations and documents into clinical records.
• Provide emergency care as appropriate.
• Manages and oversees all medical categories for cases that do not require referral.
• Provide total patient care, including prevention, health maintenance, early diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up services.
• Routine duties shall include, even if rarely required, providing medical care and public health services to individuals eligible for services provided by TONHC in homes, schools, clinics, job sites, and other community locations within the TONHC service area.
• Review patient medications, diet, therapy course, adherence to the treatment management plan, and other observations to develop, modify and assess the treatment plan.
• Provide instructions and consultation to patients and their families.
• Performs and assists other physicians in the performance of minor surgery.
• Delivers infants when necessitated by urgent/emergent circumstances and provides or arranges for postpartum care.
• Coordinates and integrates information obtained into ongoing health care information systems utilized by TONHC.
• Ensures preparation of appropriate medical records for all patients seen to ensure the accumulation and organization of all pertinent clinical data needed to provide comprehensive medical care.
• Disseminate clinical reports and correspondence concerning patients to physicians, hospitals, and other individuals and facilities.
• Works closely with allied health professionals to provide effective interdisciplinary health care services and treatment.
• Participates in a comprehensive Quality Improvement Program that meets the accreditation standards of The Joint Commission.
• Ensures clinical care is consistent with standards of practice, guidelines, and department-specific policies and procedures.
• Communicate effectively with patients and families in situations of medical, psychosocial, and cultural complexity.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned and contributes to a team effort.
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, tribal laws, regulations, and requirements.
• Knowledge of legal regulations and requirements about confidentiality, specifically to the Privacy Act of 1974 and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
• Knowledge of the economic, educational, health, and social challenges faced by Native Americans in rural and urban settings.
• Skill in respectful and compassionate intercultural communication.
• Skill in providing superior customer service to external and internal customers.
• Ability to carry out professional practice fully respectful of Tohono O'odham culture, customs, and traditions.
• Ability to provide practical, comprehensive health care for patients across a full range of clinical scenarios.
• Ability to responsibly develop new approaches for situations in which the established techniques/practices and treatment regimen have not been effective.
• Ability to work independently with a wide latitude to determine and pursue a course of treatment with and for patients.
• Ability to travel within and outside the boundaries of the Tohono O'odham Nation as necessary to carry out duties and responsibilities.
• Ability to cope adaptively in stressful situations.
• Ability to communicate efficiently and effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with other incumbents and the general public.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy from the United States or Canadian medical school approved by a recognized accrediting body in the year of applicant's graduation.
  
  

OR

• A Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree from a medical school not of the USA or Canada that provided education and medical knowledge substantially equivalent to accredited schools in the United States, as demonstrated by permanent certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), or a Fifth Pathway Certificate.
• Completed an approved internship and a license to practice medicine.
• One to two years of professional experience beyond the completion of formal internship training or progressive experience equivalent in breadth and intensity, or culmination of three to four years of residency training.
  
  

Licenses, Certifications, Special Requirements

• Must possess and maintain a permanent, complete, and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a State, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the United States territory.
• Upon recommendation for hire, a criminal background and a National FBI fingerprint check are required to determine suitability for employment, including a 39-month driving record.
• May require possessing and maintaining a valid driver's license (no DUIs or major traffic citations within the last three years).
• If required, must meet the Tohono O'odham Nation tribal employer's insurance requirements to receive a driver's permit to operate program vehicles.
• Based on the department's needs, incumbents may be required to demonstrate fluency in both the Tohono O'odham language and English as a condition of employment.