Primary Care Provider

Description:

The Primary Care Provider at LIFE Pittsburgh plays a pivotal role in delivering comprehensive, Participant-centered care within our Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). This position is ideal for a mission-driven provider who thrives in a collaborative, team-based environment and is passionate about helping older adults maintain their independence, dignity, and quality of life.

As both a healthcare provider and insurer, LIFE Pittsburgh takes full responsibility for the medical, social, and supportive care of its Participants, offering a holistic, proactive approach to aging in the community. Unlike traditional fee-for-service models, our capitated funding structure eliminates productivity quotas and billing constraints, allowing providers to focus entirely on delivering the right care at the right time.

Founded in 1999, LIFE Pittsburgh was one of Pennsylvania’s first PACE programs and is now part of a growing network of over 180 PACE programs nationwide. We currently serve Allegheny County through five centers, offering comprehensive services designed to keep older adults living safely in their homes and communities.

Key Responsibilities

As a Primary Care Provider, you will:

• Deliver comprehensive primary care tailored to each Participant’s unique needs, goals, and preferences.
• Work within an interdisciplinary team (IDT) of nurses, social workers, therapists, and specialists to develop and implement whole person care plans.
• Manage acute and chronic conditions while prioritizing preventive care and proactive intervention for a panel of approximately 130-150 participants.
• Ensure continuity of care across hospitalizations, skilled nursing stays, and home-based services.
• Collaborate closely with Participants and families to align care decisions with personal values and quality-of-life goals.
• Participate in daily IDT meetings to coordinate and adjust care plans in real time.
• Support the PACE model’s focus on reducing unnecessary hospitalizations by emphasizing preventive care, early intervention, and effective care transitions.
• Share responsibility for on-call coverage, ensuring 24/7 medical support for Participants.

Why PACE is Different

PACE is not a traditional healthcare setting. It offers an integrated, collaborative approach that allows providers to spend more time with Participants, focusing on their long-term well-being and quality of life.

Unlike fee-for-service medicine, PACE providers do not work under productivity quotas or billing pressures. Instead, our team has the freedom to practice medicine the way it was meant to be—building meaningful, long-term relationships with Participants and families while delivering thoughtful, proactive care.

PACE offers providers a chance to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, making quick, coordinated decisions based on participant needs. Emphasizing quality over quantity, providers ensure effective resource use.

Approximate panel size is 130:1 participant-to-provider ratio. Participants are able to receive medical needs, attend Adult Day Health Centers and receive home visits based on need. Participants must be seen for a complete evaluation every 6 months at a minimum. Daily, there are approximately 5-7 episodic or urgent care visits. The primary schedule is M-F 8am-4:30pm at their designated Adult Day Center Clinic. Some home visits or skilled nursing visits may be required for those who are home bound. On Call responsibilities include 1:6 weeknight phone coverage and 1:6 weekend phone coverage. On call coverage consists of an on call team of nursing and home care staff.

Requirements:

The ideal Primary Care Provider is:

• Mission-Driven: Passionate about LIFE Pittsburgh’s commitment to helping seniors age with dignity, independence, and respect. Collaborative & Team-Oriented: Thrives in an interdisciplinary environment and values shared decision-making.
• Holistically Minded: Embraces a preventive, whole-person approach to care rather than reactive, episodic treatment with a focus on quality of life
• Adaptable & Innovative: Willing to challenge traditional healthcare models to improve outcomes for seniors.
• A Strong Communicator: Able to engage effectively with Participants, families, and team members to build trust and ensure alignment in care planning.
• Geriatric-Focused (Preferred but Not Required): Experience in geriatrics, palliative care, or chronic disease management
• Flexibility: Able to work in a flexible environment with a semi unstructured daily schedule

The Opportunity

This is a chance to transform the way healthcare is delivered to older adults. At LIFE Pittsburgh, you will work in a setting that values collaboration, quality, and meaningful relationships, free from the pressures of traditional practice models.

By joining LIFE Pittsburgh, you will:

• Be part of a mission-driven organization that is reshaping senior care in Allegheny County.
• Enjoy a team-based model where you can focus on care, not quotas.
• Develop long-term relationships with your patients and directly impact their ability to live independently.
• Have the opportunity to contribute to innovation within the PACE model and influence how senior care is delivered.

If you are looking for a rewarding career where you can make a real difference, LIFE Pittsburgh invites you to join us. Together, we make LIFE phenomenal.

Requirements

• Active Pennsylvania licensure: MDs must have a current Pennsylvania Medical License;
• Board Certification: MDs must be Board Eligible/Board Certified in Internal Medicine or Family Medicine;
• DEA registration for prescribing controlled substances
• Experience in geriatrics or complex care preferred, but not required
• Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively within an interdisciplinary team
• Commitment to holistic, participant-centered care, prioritizing dignity, independence, and quality of life
• Comfortable with medical decision-making in a non-traditional, value-based care environment