Physician Vitality Program - Statewide Expansion Through IMA

The Physician Vitality Program (PVP) was originally developed by the Ada County Medical Society (ACMS) and provides free, confidential mental health counseling for physician members.

IMA is pleased to announce that we are working with ACMS to launch the Physician Vitality Program statewide in conjunction with the IMA's Annual Meeting/House of Delegates in Coeur d'Alene from October 13-15.

Formation of a statewide PVP comes after the passage of a resolution in 2021 by the IMA House of Delegates and the recent IMA board approval of a recommendation from Dr. Joe Williams, current IMA Treasurer and former ACMS Board President under whose tenure PVP was developed. This development highlights our organization's commitment to supporting the well-being of physicians and promoting healthier workplaces.

During the 2023 IMA House of Delegates, IMA physicians will be afforded the opportunity to learn more about the statewide PVP program and review brochures and promotional materials about this important initiative. 

Recruiting New Mental Health Providers

PVP is currently seeking to recruit 1-2 MHPs in each district of the state outside of Ada County. They have already acquired one in South Central and another in Coeur d'Alene, but they need more staff in other areas of the state. While telehealth options are possible with their existing 12 contractors, they are also looking for in-person opportunities. Please let Steve Reames know if you know of any qualified providers you would refer to a fellow physician outside of Boise. If you would like more information, please click here.

Don't miss the following town hall meetings coming to your area. The Medicaid Managed Care Task Force is a legislative interim committee considering the pros and cons of moving Idaho Medicaid to a Managed Care Organization (MCO) model.

As of January 1, 2022, Idaho Medicaid transitioned to a Value-based Care Organization (VCO) model where the state directly contracts with healthcare provider groups to improve quality and control costs for Medicaid patients. The initial data from the first year of the VCO model is promising, but more time is needed to fully realize the benefits of the program.

In the meantime, insurance company representatives are pushing for a change to a MCO model, in which a third party contracts with the state to administer the Medicaid program for a profit. Experience in other states has shown that MCO cost containment, if any, comes at the expense of patient access to care and provider reimbursement cuts, along with additional red tape.

Legislators serving on the Medicaid Managed Care Task Force want to hear from physicians and practice managers on how best to approach this issue. Consider coming to a Town Hall near you!

Promoting Physician Well-being Takes More Than Words

One lesson learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is that uncertainty drives anxiety, a contributing factor to physician burnout.

So how can healthcare leaders reduce physician anxiety and in turn promote physician well-being in their organization?



Communication.

More broadly, enhancing the organization’s communication so that it promotes a culture of well-being in which physicians and other employees feel valued and cared for, according to Jonathan Ripp, MD, MPH.

“Words do matter and they can be very helpful in conveying thanks, but they are not sufficient,” said Dr. Ripp, who is chief and senior associate dean of well-being and resilience at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

More important is the need to listen to the physicians and other health professionals in your organization, empower them to accomplish positive change, and for leaders to take action, Dr. Ripp said during an AMA webinar on well-being communications strategies.

Such communications strategies are one part of a recently released AMA STEPS Forward^® playbook on wellness-centered leadership, which explores how leaders can develop a culture of wellness across their organizations.

Valor Health (Pediatrician)

Specialty: Pediatrics

Status: Full Time

Schedule: Traditional clinic work week, M-F

Call: Not required

Inpatient pediatric hospital care: optional but performed at the FMRI facilities, if performed.

Benefits:

• Full Medical and Dental
• Retirement 403B matching
• PTO & CME allocation
• Malpractice, including tail
• Sign-on incentives based on timely completion of onboarding requirements
• Medical directorship growth opportunities depending on interest and experience

Practice Highlights

Valor Health is looking for a board-certified pediatrician to provide pediatric care to the rural community of Gem County, Idaho, which sits in the scenic Payette River valley 30 miles northwest of Boise.

The position will involve the management & care of children with complex medical needs, as well as being a consultant and pediatric resource for the organization's family physicians. Most of the pediatric primary and urgent care will be performed by family medicine physicians. More complex pediatric patients will be either managed in conjunction with the family physicians or solely by the pediatrician with consultation, if necessary, from pediatric subspecialists in the nearby Boise metro area.

The position also includes a faculty role teaching and mentoring pediatric and family medicine residents from the Pediatric Residency of Idaho & Family Medicine Residency of Idaho. Leadership opportunities are available organizationally, locally, and regionally.

For more information, check us out at http://www.valorhealth.org/

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree.
• Successful completion of an accredited ACGME/AOA Family Medicine residency program.
• Eligible to obtain Idaho medical licensure to practice medicine, including controlled substance registration with the Idaho Boards of Pharmacy and the DEA.
• Eligible to participate and receive payments from Medicare and Medicaid and commercial insurance companies and be free of any OIG exclusions.

To apply: https://talent.paylocity.com/Talent/Jobs/Details/890044

Family Medicine/Sports Medicine Physician for Innovative Health Center

Once-in-a-career opportunity to care for an engaged, fit, and motivated population of first responders and their family members, in a dynamic outpatient environment.

Compensation: Competitive, incentive-based salary starting at $250,000, with the opportunity to earn generous bonus compensation based on performance.

Status: Full-Time

Why Practice at ERHC?

Medicine … the way it was meant to be.

• Care for a health-conscious population of dedicated public servants and their family members, focusing on preventative wellness services and mindful lifestyles
• Pactice in an independent clinic setting, founded and directed by a leading physician
• Receive in-clinic mentorship to advance your scope of family medicine/sports medicine practice
• Collaborate with top-caliber family medicine, mental health, physical therapy, and integrative healing providers in one inter-disciplinary practice
• Deliver in-depth, patient-centered care, based on health - not administration – objectives, with longer appointment times and comprehensive visits
• Work in an advanced environment emphasizing innovation and specialized protocols
• Look forward to coming to work in a modern, welcoming, doctor-designed facility

About Emergency Responders Health Center (ERHC):

Safeguard the lives of those who safeguard our local communities, with ERHC. Established in 2004, ERHC is regarded as our region’s leader in first responder medicine. ERHC is the provider of choice for 30+ fire, police, EMS, and military agencies, and cares for a patient panel of 8,000 responders and their family members (newborn to age 65). ERHC’s practice model spans “360 degrees of care” from preventative health and wellness, occupational medicine, primary and urgent care, physical therapy and worker’s compensation case management, to mental health services and workforce wellness consultation.

We are seeking a dynamic family medicine/sports medicine physician to provide broad-spectrum family medicine services (no OB) in an outpatient clinic environment, spanning in-depth, duty-specific annual wellness exams and leading-edge cardiac and cancer screenings; occupational/sports medicine and continuity family care; and mental health screening.

Advancement Opportunities: This team member has the opportunity to advance into an Associate Medical Director role, based on exemplary patient care performance, leadership capabilities, and willingness to support medical administrative functions, such as patient health education outreach, clinical in-service training, and policy development.

Eligibility Requirements:

• MD/DO credentials
• Board Certification in Family Medicine or Internal Medicine
• Minimum 2 years of Family Medicine practice experience

Desired/Competitive Qualifications:

• Experience, or dual-certification, in Sports Medicine and/or Occupational Medicine
• Willingness to undergo mentorship to learn the basics of exercise physiology and develop proficiency in exercise cardiac stress testing
• Willingness to adopt ERHC’s “depth-of-care” standards for highly responsive, patient-centered care
• Willingness to undergo mentorship and independent study toward mastering specialized clinical protocols, including understanding of first responder occupational health, workplace exposures and risks, and culture
• Desire to invest time and talent in furthering ERHC’s mission and clinic model
• Ability to work independently and as a member of an interdisciplinary clinical and administrative team, to provide superior care as well as fostering a warm and welcoming workplace environment
• Demonstrated proficiency in clinic-based EMR* applications, with the ability to complete timely, efficient, and accurate charting (*ERHC utilizes eClinicalWorks; prior eCW experience not required)

Schedule:

• Weekdays (4 days per week)
• Rotating Saturday mornings (once every 4 weeks)

Work Location/Travel:

• Single clinic site, with the opportunity to participate in periodic travel clinics in scenic Idaho locations
• Well-maintained health center facility housing 8 exam rooms, digital X-ray imaging (with new ultrasound technology arriving in 2023), cardiac stress test suites, laboratory, procedure room, physical therapy studio, and teaching kitchen
• Nearby satellite wellness clinic housing ERHC Mental Health Services, acupuncture, and massage therapy

Benefits:

• Health, Dental & EAP Benefits
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 401K with Match
• Malpractice, General Liability, Cyber and Workers’ Compensation Insurance
• Dragon Medical One License, Dictaphone & eClinicalWorks License

Our Location:

ERHC is based in idyllic Boise, Idaho, a rapidly growing mid-sized city offering a thriving downtown and nightlife scene; an active arts, cultural, and sporting community; and a wide range of all-season recreational opportunities within minutes, including nearby river and mountain sports. Boise is a short flight from the destinations of Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; and Salt Lake City, UT. Consistently ranked among the nation’s most “livable” communities, Boise has a reputation for being safe, friendly, and welcoming for young families and people of all ages. (https://realestate.usnews.com/places/idaho/boise)

To Apply: Visit https://er-hc.org/careers

Questions? Email: [email protected]