Medical Officer (Podiatry)

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:

Serves as Podiatrist for the Tohono O'odham Nation Sells Hospital and associated health centers to perform a full range of podiatric services.

Scope of Work:

Serves as a Podiatrist for Tohono O'odham Nation Sells hospital, performing preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic podiatric services. The incumbent works under the general supervision of the Clinical Director, who provides general clinical and administrative guidance. Incumbent works 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):

• Assign to the podiatry clinics.
• Interviews and examines patients, review past medical history, and requests ad/or performs diagnostic tests to diagnose podiatric pathology.
• Provide medical or surgical treatment and referral as appropriate.
• Co-admits and discharges podiatric patients with MD or DO for podiatric medical/surgical management of patients.
• Perform inpatient consultation.
• Perform outpatient and inpatient surgical procedures under anesthesia.
• Maintains clinical and administrative records as required.
• Counsels and educates patients, families, communities, and staff about podiatric health care, emphasizing preventative foot care for diabetic patients.
• Treat bone, muscle, and joint disorders affecting the feet.
• Treat conditions such as corns, calluses, ingrown nails, tumors, shortened tendons, bunions, cysts, and abscesses by surgical methods.
• Educate the public about the benefits of foot care through techniques such as speaking engagements, advertising, and other forums.
• Advise patients about treatments and foot care techniques necessary for the prevention of future problems.
• Use plaster casts and strapping to correct deformities.
• Diagnose diseases and deformities of the foot using medical histories, physical examinations, x-rays, and laboratory test results.
• Prescribe medication, corrective devices, physical therapy, or surgery.
• Direct the orthotic, contact cast, and show program for diabetic patients.
• Performs diabetic foot screening exams and treats complications of diabetes such as neuropathy, infections, ulcers, venous stasis, and wound care.
• Refer patients to physicians when symptoms indicating systemic disorders, such as arthritis or diabetes, are observed in feet and legs.
• Responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating a podiatric medical and surgical program for the TONHC hospital.
• Responsible for developing new theories and formulating new approaches to decrease the critically high diabetes-related lower-extremity amputation rate on the Tohono O'odham Nation.
• Maintains clinical and administrative records as required.
• Attends meetings and participates on committees at the TONHC, as assigned.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned and contributes to a team effort.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the Tohono O'odham culture, customs, and traditions.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, tribal laws, regulations, and requirements.
• Knowledge of legal regulations and requirements on confidentiality, specifically to the Privacy Act of 1974 and Health Insurance Portability Act of 1996 (HIPPA).
• Skill in supervising, training, and evaluating assigned staff.
• Skill in providing superior customer service to external and internal customers.
• Ability to communicate efficiently and effectively verbally and in writing.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) degree.
• One year of approved residency training and one year of medical center experiences; or
• Two years of approved residency training.

Licenses, Certifications, Special Requirements:

• Must maintain an active license to practice podiatric medicines in any state of the United States.
• Board eligibility with the American Board of Wound Management, Primary Podiatric Medicine, or the American Board of Podiatric Surgery.
• 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.