Primary Care Physician, HIV Specialist, LGBTQ Health Specialist

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA).; Norwalk (CT); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health care provider in Norwalk, CT is seeking a Primary Care Provider specializing in HIV and LGBTQ+ health care. Ideal candidates will be MD or DO qualified, with experience in gender-affirming care and a passion for serving the community. Join a dedicated team committed to delivering high-quality medical services in a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Licensed in Connecticut as a medical provider.
• Experience with STI treatment and prevention.
• Advanced competency with LGBTQ+ health issues.

Responsibilities

• Perform health assessments and document patient history.
• Diagnose health issues and develop treatment plans.
• Provide gender-affirming care and advocate for patients.

Skills

Communication

Cultural Competency

Problem Solving

Education

MD or DO

Job description

Primary Care Provider, HIV Specialist, LGBTQ+ Health Specialist (MD, DO)

ABOUT US:

Founded in 2011, Circle Care Center (CCC) is Connecticut’s largest independent provider of stigma-free sexual health and LGBTQ+-affirming medical services. CCC now serves more than 3000 patients annually across its two clinical locations in Norwalk and Glastonbury and operates an in-house pharmacy at its Norwalk location. Circle Care Center’s mission is to provide the highest quality medical care to its patients in Connecticut, specializing in primary care for people living with HIV and the LGBTQI+ community, as well as HIV prevention (PrEP & PEP), Hepatitis C, and STI testing and treatment, Gender-Affirming Care, and Behavioral Health Services.

SUMMARY:

Circle Care Center is seeking to hire a new primary care provider for its Norwalk, CT, location. A specialty in internal medicine with experience in primary care settings is preferred but not required. All providers with MD or DO credentials will be considered. Preference is for providers who are experienced in gender-affirming care and working with members of the LGBTQ+ community, and more specifically in primary care for people assigned female at birth. Providers work under the supervision and guidance of the Senior Medical Director, who is the onsite Medical Director of its Norwalk, CT, location.

Typical Duties

A. Assessment of Health Status

1. Obtains and accurately documents a relevant health history for adolescents and adults in their respective phases of the individual and family life cycle.
2. Performs and accurately documents complete, system, or symptom-specific physical examinations on adults (including developmental evaluations, physical system evaluations, and behavioral evaluations for each group).
3. Assesses the impact of family, community, environment, home, economic, work, and school environments on an individual’s health status.
4. Performs screening evaluations for mental health, substance abuse, and violence.
5. Distinguish between normal and abnormal change with aging.
6. Assesses adolescents and adults throughout the stages of chronic illness.
7. Assesses for common occupational, home, and recreational exposures that affect health.
8. Assesses the effect of illness and/or injury on the individual:
   1. Functional status.
   2. Ability to work or return to work/school.
   3. Physical and mental status.
   4. Social relationships.
9. Assesses the changing impact and reciprocal effects of acute illness and known chronic health problems in adolescents and adults.
10. Analyzes the multiple effects of pharmacologic agents, including over-the-counter (OTC) preparations and folk remedies, in adolescents and adults with multiple health problems.
11. Works with the pharmacy staff to determine any adverse events that may occur with the patients retrospective and current medication regimen.
12. Assesses the impact of family transitions, such as death, divorce, marriage, employment, and retirement, on the health issues of adolescents and adults.
13. Distinguishes ethnic and gender differences in the presentation and progression of common acute and chronic health problems in adolescents and adults.
14. Assesses and evaluates vague or ill-defined symptoms in adolescents and adults.
15. Assesses for psychological manifestations of health problems in adolescents and adults.

B. Diagnosis of Health Status

1. Discriminates among multiple potential mechanisms causing signs and symptoms of health problems commonly diagnoses in adults and adolescents.
2. Identifies both typical and atypical presentations of commonly occurring health problems in adolescents and adults.
3. Differentiates between signs and symptoms indicating exacerbation and/or remission of a chronic health problem and signs and symptoms of a new problem in adults and adolescents with known health problems.
4. Diagnoses commonly occurring complications of chronic health problems, including psychological/mental health manifestations.
5. Diagnoses commonly occurring acute and chronic health problems in adolescents and adults with an emphasis on multi-system health problems.
6. Diagnoses common mental health and substance abuse problems such as anxiety, depression, obesity, alcohol, and drug abuse.
7. Construct appropriate differential diagnoses for further investigation or referral in adolescents and adults who present with ill-defined health problems.
8. Recognizes the health impact of multiple demands on adults, such as career, family, parenting, relationships, and finances.

C. Plan of Care and Implementation of Treatment

1. Participates in the development and implementation of health promotion programs for adolescents and adults.
2. Designs health maintenance and disease prevention interventions for adolescents and adults.
3. Provides age-relevant health promotion that reflects an understanding of gender differences in adolescents and adults.
4. Incorporates prevention for work-related risks and exposures in the plan of care.
5. Provides secondary and tertiary preventive interventions to adolescents and adults with multiple and/or chronic health problems.
6. Manages commonly-occurring acute and chronic physical and mental health problems in adolescents and adults to promote health, function, and quality of life and reduce disability and complications.
7. Plans for long-term management of common health problems in adolescents and adults.
8. Treats common complications of chronic and/or multi-system health problems in adults and adolescents.
9. Promotes self-care by adolescents and adults within the constellation of the family and/or support system and facilitates their participation in care when appropriate.
10. Evaluates the response of both the individual and the family to the health care provided.
11. Evaluate the patient’s and/or caregiver’s support systems.
12. Performs common primary care procedures, including, but not limited to, suturing, microscopy, and pap tests.
13. Advocates for the patient’s/family’s rights regarding decision-making as appropriate regarding durable power of attorney, advance directives, and other related issues.
14. Facilitates the patient’s transition between health care settings, such as home to hospital or nursing home, and provides for continuity of care.
15. Applies research that contributes to positive change in the health care delivered to adolescents and adults.

D. Teaching and Coaching Function

1. Develop, with the patient, interventions appropriate to the patient’s needs and values.
2. Demonstrates effective communication skills in addressing sensitive topics with adolescents and adults, such as sexually related issues, substance abuse, violence, death, mental health, and other related problems.
3. Negotiates behavior/lifestyle changes with adolescents and adults and supports the adoption of healthy behaviors.

E. Professional Role

1. Promotes comprehensive care and continuity of care in both primary care and specialty practice.
2. Recognizes the importance of participation in community and professional organizations that influence the health of adolescents and adults and supports the role of the adult nurse practitioner.
3. Interprets their role in primary and specialty health care to other health care providers and the public.
4. Serves as a resource in the design and development of adult community-based health services.

Requirements

1. Ability to give full attention to what other people are saying and to use logic and reason to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions;
2. Ability to identify complex problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions;
3. Ability to monitor or assess your performance, that of other individuals, or that of the organization to make improvements or take corrective action.
4. Maintain a professional and positive working relationship with patients, medical staff, other co-workers, and the public.

Qualifications

1. Qualifying degree (MD or DO)
2. Licensed by the State of Connecticut to practice as a medical provider.
3. Experience with STI treatment and prevention and/or gender-affirming care
4. Experience in providing primary care to people assigned female at birth.
5. Advanced cultural competency when working with patients in the LGBTQ+ community.
6. Current and Bi-Annual certification of Basic Life Support/AED
7. Must have excellent communication skills
8. Maintenance of continuing educational hours annually
9. Ability to use various computer systems, including an Electronic Health Record
10. A passion for the LGBTQ community, health care, and social justice issues.

Circle Care Center provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to the following: race, ethnic traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, marital or civil union status, homeless status, genetic information, including family medical history, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, child or spousal support withholding, wage garnishments; fewer than seven per year, smoking or using tobacco products outside the course of employment, credit report or credit information, arrest records, erased criminal history, citizenship and/or immigration status, exercise of first amendment rights, as long as they don’t substantially interfere with job performance or the employment relationship, domestic violence victim status, any other protected class, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.