Physician II

Travis County Sheriff; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Travis County Sheriff in Austin, TX seeks a Primary Physician to oversee medical services for the department's secure facilities, ensuring care aligns with best practices and regulatory requirements. This role conducts daily sick calls, reviews procedures, coordinates hospital admissions, and provides on-call coverage on a rotating schedule, while guiding nurses and physician assistants.

Candidates must hold Texas MD/DO license and have at least three years of related experience; driver’s

Qualifications

• MD or DO from an accredited medical school.
• Three years of progressively responsible physician experience.
• Licensed to practice in Texas by the Texas Medical Board.
• Valid Texas driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct medical care to inmates in secure facilities.
• Conduct daily sick calls and review/approve medical procedures.
• Maintain admission privileges and coordinate hospital admissions.
• Provide on-call coverage every third week (7 days/24 hours).
• Direct supervision of medical staff and support personnel; participate in evaluations.
• Assist in developing and implementing medical policies and procedures.
• Support ACA/NCCHC accreditation efforts.
• Ensure compliance with HIPAA and other regulations.
• Attend department meetings and perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Caring and treating patients

Supervising others

Verbal and written communication

Time management

Secure facility operations

Education

MD/DO degree

Tools

Word processing

Spreadsheets

Databases

Medical records systems

Job description

Provides professional medical services by serving as Primary Physician and serves as the designated health authority that is commensurate with accepted medical practice and sound financial management for the medical section's secure facilities patients.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is the second in a series of two physician-related job classifications within the Medical job family. This classification is distinguished from the Physician I in that incumbents are responsible for a larger operational scope, typically perform in a secure environment. This classification may require work in secure facilities. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

• Responsible for providing and directing health care services provided to the medical section's secure facilities patients.
• Conducts daily Doctor's line (sick call) for patients at medical section's secure facilities. Reviews and approves all medical procedures conducted within the facilities. Provides consultation, hands-on treatment and other related medical services. Reviews and approves all protocols. Assists with formulary reviews and revisions. Maintains an up-to-date working knowledge of the available courses of treatment for the inmate population.
• Maintains admission privileges for Dell Seton Medical Center and acts as the admitting physician for all patients sent to the hospital.
• Provides on-call services, with availability, once every third week (7-day/24-hour) for consultation, treatment and/or other related medical services.
• Directs staff and coordinates activities for medical health care infirmary operations staff. Provides supervision and registry support for Physician Assistants and/or Nurse Practitioners. Assists in recruiting and selecting personnel. Assists in staff performance evaluations. Provides in-service training to health care and security staff.
• Provides advice and assistance in developing and implementing policies and procedures that will ensure quality, effective and efficient medical and nursing care in the facilities. Assists with selecting medical diagnostic and treatment tools and equipment.
• Assist with obtaining ACA/NCCHC accreditation.
• Complies with all rules, regulations, polices and procedures.
• Assists in the analysis of any claims related to or connected with provision of medical services at the facilities. Assists in the discovery as an expert for participation in arbitration or dispute resolution, as requested, by the County Attorney.
• Attends scheduled department meetings.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Graduation from an accredited school of medicine with a degree as a medical doctor AND three (3) years of directly related, increasingly responsible experience as a physician.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

Licensed to practice as a medical doctor in the State of Texas issued by the Texas Medical Board.

Valid Texas Driver's License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Methods, procedures, rules and regulations in the field commensurate with a General Practice Physician practicing in the State of Texas.
• Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and applicable professional health care standards and procedures.
• Management and supervisory principles, practices and techniques.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.
• Knowledge of and adherence to HIPAA and other federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.

Skill in:

• Caring and treating patients.
• Using medical equipment utilized in area of assignment.
• Supervising others, including team building.
• Explaining complicated technical problems in simple non-technical language.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Both verbal and written communication.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively.
• Work efficiently both independently and as part of a medical team.
• Plan, assign, supervise and review the work of subordinates.
• Reason and make judgments and decisions.
• Manage time well and perform multiple tasks, and organize diverse activities.
• Fit health care and related services into a secure environment.
• Perform in a stressful environment, while maintaining a professional manner.
• Research, compile, analyze, interpret and prepare a variety of memorandums or reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, medical and other County employees and officials, representatives of outside agencies, attorneys, judges and the general public.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 35-100 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions. Subject to contact with communicable diseases, radiation, hazardous waste, human fecal matter and foul odors.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:00 - 3:00 PM. Shared rotation for on call services.

Location: Austin, Texas

Department: Sheriff

Criminal, Credit, Driving, Education, Employment Checks Required.

Drug and Alcohol Test Required.

For updates or questions on this position, contact [e-mail].

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.