Primary Care Physician (MD/DO) – Skilled Nursing Facility Focus

Description:

LIFE Pittsburgh’s Primary Care Physician Role Overview

LIFE Pittsburgh, a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), is seeking a dedicated MD or DO Primary Care Physician to join our mission-driven team. This role is ideal for a provider passionate about improving the lives of older adults through holistic, coordinated care in a collaborative environment.

As a PACE organization, LIFE Pittsburgh assumes full responsibility for the medical, social, and supportive care of our Participants, enabling providers to focus on quality care without productivity quotas or billing constraints. Our integrated model emphasizes preventive care, proactive management, and seamless transitions to keep seniors living safely in their communities.

Some Participants require care in skilled nursing facilities (SNF), either for short-term rehabilitation or, in certain cases, long-term custodial stays. LIFE Pittsburgh continues to manage and coordinate care for these individuals while they are in a skilled nursing setting. We are seeking a full-time physician to oversee and direct the care of Participants in these facilities, ensuring continuity, quality, and alignment with the PACE philosophy.

As the designated Skilled Nursing Facility physician, your primary responsibility will be to provide comprehensive medical oversight for LIFE Pittsburgh Participants residing in SNFs. This includes routinely rounding on these Participants, managing their medical needs, and ensuring continuity of care. You will work closely with the PACE Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) to coordinate treatment plans, facilitate care transitions, and make decisions regarding hospital admissions or discharges back to the community setting in alignment with PACE philosophy.

In addition to SNF responsibilities, you will also assist with enrollment assessments for new Participants. This involves performing a thorough evaluation, developing an initial care plan, and completing medication reconciliation. Once the assessment is complete, you will transition ongoing care to the Participant’s designated Primary Care Provider at their LIFE Pittsburgh center.

Key Responsibilities

As a Skilled Nursing Facility Primary Care Physician, you will:

• Serve as the primary medical provider for Participants residing in six contracted skilled nursing facilities, managing both short-term skilled patients and long-term residents.
• Collaborate closely with interdisciplinary PACE teams to coordinate care plans and ensure continuity across settings.
• Facilitate timely discharges from skilled nursing facilities to community settings, aligning with PACE philosophy and clinical appropriateness.
• Communicate effectively with Participants, families, and team members to align care decisions with personal goals.
• Manage acute and chronic conditions with a focus on preventive care and quality of life.
• Participate in daily IDT meetings and contribute to real-time care planning.
• Support PACE’s mission to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations through proactive intervention and effective care transitions.
• Conduct comprehensive evaluations and assessments for newly enrolled Participants, then transition them to their designated center PCP for ongoing management.
• Share responsibility for on-call coverage (phone-based): approximately 1:6 weeknight and weekend/holiday rotation. On-call coverage includes a team with nursing and home care.

Why PACE is Different

PACE offers a unique, integrated approach to senior care:

• No productivity quotas or billing pressures—focus entirely on patient care.
• Collaborative team environment—work alongside nurses, social workers, therapists, and specialists.
• Whole-person care model—prioritize dignity, independence, and quality of life for older adults.

Requirements:

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Mission-Driven: Committed to LIFE Pittsburgh’s vision of helping seniors age with dignity and independence.
• Collaborative: Thrives in an interdisciplinary team setting.
• Holistically Minded: Embraces preventive, whole-person care.
• Strong Communicator: Builds trust with Participants, families, and colleagues.
• Geriatric Experience Preferred: Background in geriatrics, palliative care, or chronic disease management is a plus. Prior skilled nursing facility management preferred.
• Adaptable: Comfortable with flexible schedules and non-traditional care environments.

Requirements

• Active Pennsylvania Medical License (MD or DO).
• Board Certified in Internal Medicine or Family Medicine.
• DEA registration for prescribing controlled substances.
• Experience in geriatrics, skilled nursing facility or complex care preferred, but not required.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.
• Commitment to participant-centered, value-based care.

The Opportunity

Join LIFE Pittsburgh and help transform senior care in Allegheny County. Enjoy a rewarding career where you can:

• Build meaningful relationships with patients.
• Work in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.
• Influence innovation within the PACE model.

If you are ready to make a real difference, apply today and help us make LIFE phenomenal.