Hospice/Palliative Inpatient Physician - Fredericksburg, VA

Mary Washington Healthcare; United States; On-site; USD 221,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

Mary Washington Healthcare seeks an experienced palliative medicine physician to provide inpatient consultations for patients with serious, life‑limiting illnesses. You will assess symptoms, lead goals‑of‑care discussions, and coordinate care with an interdisciplinary team across the hospital.

The role includes supervising APPs, covering GIP patients, and participating in quality improvement and program development.

Qualifications

• MD or DO degree from an accredited institution.
• Completion of an accredited residency program.
• Fellowship training in Hospice and Palliative Medicine or Board Eligible in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
• Demonstrated expertise in symptom management, serious illness communication, advance care planning, and end-of-life care.
• Strong interpersonal, leadership, communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills.
• Ability to supervise and collaborate effectively with Advanced Practice Providers.
• Ability to work independently while functioning effectively within an interdisciplinary team environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive inpatient palliative medicine consultations for patients with serious, advanced, life-limiting, and end-stage illnesses.
• Assess, diagnose, and manage pain and complex symptoms including dyspnea, delirium, nausea, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and other distressing conditions.
• Facilitate goals-of-care discussions, advance care planning, code status conversations, and shared decision-making with patients and families.
• Provide physician coverage and management for Hospice General Inpatient (GIP) patients, ensuring regulatory and hospice standards are met.
• Supervise, mentor, and collaborate with APPs including clinical oversight, consultation, documentation review, and physician support.
• Collaborate with attending physicians, specialists, nursing staff, care managers, social workers, chaplains, pharmacists, and therapists to establish coordinated plans of care.
• Cover service line night, weekend, holiday, and after-hours call with associated shiftwork.
• Participate in interdisciplinary rounds, family meetings, ethics consultations, and care conferences.
• Educate patients, families, physicians, APPs, residents, students, and staff regarding serious illness care and palliative medicine principles.
• Participate in quality improvement, performance improvement, regulatory compliance, and program development initiatives.
• Serve as an expert resource regarding palliative medicine, hospice eligibility, symptom management, end-of-life care, and ethical decision-making.

Skills

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Leadership

Communication

Supervision of APPs

Quality Improvement

Education

MD or DO degree

Residency completed

Fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Board Certification or Board Eligibility in Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Board Certification or Board Eligibility in primary specialty

Virginia Medical License

DEA Registration

Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

Job description

Start the day excited to make a difference…end the day knowing you did. Come join our team.

Job Summary

Provides comprehensive inpatient palliative medicine consultation services to patients facing serious, life-limiting, and end-stage illnesses throughout Mary Washington Healthcare. Delivers expert assessment and management of pain and other distressing symptoms; facilitates goals-of-care discussions, advance care planning, and end-of-life decision-making; and supports patients and families through the continuum of serious illness. Serves as a physician consultant and interdisciplinary resource to attending physicians, specialists, nursing staff, care managers, and other healthcare professionals. Provides physician coverage for Hospice General Inpatient (GIP) patients and supervises Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) practicing within the Hospice and Palliative Care Service Line. Participates in quality improvement, education, and program development activities to promote high-quality, patient-centered care.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive inpatient palliative medicine consultations for patients with serious, advanced, life-limiting, and end-stage illnesses.
• Assess, diagnose, and manage pain and complex symptoms including dyspnea, delirium, nausea, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and other distressing conditions.
• Facilitate goals-of-care discussions, advance care planning, code status conversations, and shared decision-making with patients and families.
• Provide physician coverage and management for Hospice General Inpatient (GIP) patients, ensuring regulatory and hospice standards are met.
• Supervise, mentor, and collaborate with APPs including clinical oversight, consultation, documentation review, and physician support.
• Collaborate with attending physicians, specialists, nursing staff, care managers, social workers, chaplains, pharmacists, and therapists to establish coordinated plans of care.
• Cover service line night, weekend, holiday, and after-hours call with associated shiftwork.
• Participate in interdisciplinary rounds, family meetings, ethics consultations, and care conferences.
• Educate patients, families, physicians, APPs, residents, students, and staff regarding serious illness care and palliative medicine principles.
• Participate in quality improvement, performance improvement, regulatory compliance, and program development initiatives.
• Serve as an expert resource regarding palliative medicine, hospice eligibility, symptom management, end-of-life care, and ethical decision-making.

Other duties as assigned.

Education, Experience and Qualifications Required

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from an accredited institution.
• Completion of an accredited residency program.
• Fellowship training in Hospice and Palliative Medicine or Board Eligible in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
• Demonstrated expertise in symptom management, serious illness communication, advance care planning, and end-of-life care.
• Strong interpersonal, leadership, communication, and interdisciplinary collaboration skills.
• Ability to supervise and collaborate effectively with Advanced Practice Providers.
• Ability to work independently while functioning effectively within an interdisciplinary team environment.

Preferred

• Board Certification in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
• Previous inpatient palliative care consultation experience.
• Previous hospice physician, associate medical director, or hospice medical director experience.
• Experience with quality improvement, physician education, and program development.
• Experience supervising APPs.

License and/or Certifications Required

• Current unrestricted Virginia Physician License.
• Current DEA Registration.
• Board Certification or Board Eligibility in primary specialty.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.
• Board Certification or Board Eligibility in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
• Preferred: Hospice Medical Director Certification (HMDCB).

Base Salary Range: $245,000 (min) - $245,000 (max) MWHC will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and veteran or disability status (EOE).

We are also committed to equitable and transparent compensation practices and comply with all applicable pay transparency and pay equity laws.

Compensation Pay Range: Working at Mary Washington Healthcare Whether you are a new grad, experienced clinical professional or wanting to begin a career in healthcare, there is no better place than Mary Washington Healthcare.

As a Great Place to Work-Certified™ company we treat our Associates like family – with respect, understanding, and communication.

Safety is our top priority

As a healthcare system, patient and Associate safety is our priority which is why all Associates will be required to take the following vaccines*: Annual flu vaccine *MWHC reserves the right to amend this list at any time. Medical and Religious exemptions may apply,. Will be discussed at interview.