10/20/1998 37390

PHYSICIAN SPECIALIST IN INTERNAL MEDICINE

DEFINITION: This is professional medical work in the specialized care and treatment of patients/individuals with a mental or physical injury or illness and/or developmental disability.

An employee in this class renders professional medical care and treatment work requiring specialty skills in internal medicine to patients/individuals in a Commonwealth health care facility, clinic or community program. Important aspects of this work include providing comprehensive consultations to medical staff, direct care and treatment personnel, and other staff, as appropriate, pertaining to internal medicine issues. Employees are responsible for the medical care, treatment and supervision of patients/individuals requiring this medical specialty care in the health care facility wards, buildings, or cottages or in a medical clinic. Employees may assign and review the work of other physicians, interns, registered nurses, nursing assistants, physician assistants and other professional and non-professional personnel. Work is performed independently, subject to review by a higher level physician or another administrative supervisor through consultation, review of case histories, staff reports, and personal inspection.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: Provides comprehensive consultations in the medical specialty of internal medicine by reviewing patient's/individual's medical history; analyzing, verifying, and/or updating the previous diagnoses/medical treatments; and examining and prescribing an appropriate course of medical care and treatment.

Makes rounds of wards/living areas; observes patients/individuals behavior and physical or mental condition; performs physical examinations; diagnoses disease, illness, physical or mental affliction; prescribes and administers necessary medical treatments; makes medical decisions and referrals of patients/individuals; and records case histories and results of examinations, evaluations and recommendations and medical treatments provided.

Conducts all types of internal medicine examinations, tests, diagnoses, and medical treatments.

Assigns duties to lower level professional and/or non- professional direct care staff; offers technical advice and assistance to such staff in the performance of their work; and reviews completed work for general adequacy and compliance with instructions.

Participates in community education programs.

Advises supervisors and staff on internal medicine theory, concepts, issues, appropriate medical care and treatment procedures, administrative problems and possible solutions, and on questions regarding the internal medicine specialty, policies and public relations.

Serves as a consultant in his/her capacity as a specialist in internal medicine.

Attends staff conferences and participates in continuing education programs.

Performs related work as required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of internal medicine.

Knowledge of recent developments and modern methods and techniques of medical care and treatment, particularly those requiring internal medicine specialty care.

Knowledge of medical jurisprudence.

Ability to examine patients/individuals with a mental or physical injury or illness and/or developmental disability, diagnose disease and to prescribe and administer necessary medical care and treatment.

Ability to interpret and use the results of x-rays, laboratory tests results and other diagnostic testing techniques and procedures to confirm clinical findings and to aid in the diagnosis and medical care and treatment of patients/individuals with a mental or physical injury or illness and/or developmental disability.

Ability to assign and review the work of physicians, other professional interdisciplinary care and treatment staff and to consult with, instruct and/or supervise nursing care and/or other direct care and treatment personnel.

Ability to gain the confidence and cooperation of patients/individuals and to establish effective working relations with professional and non-professional direct care staff, other employees and the general public.

Ability to learn administrative practices and procedures, rules, regulations, policies and standards related to medical services of the Department and facility.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: Graduation with a degree of Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy from a medical school approved or recognized by the Pennsylvania Medical Licensing Board or the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Licensing Board and completion of an approved U.S. Residency training program in the medical specialty of internal medicine;

and

Successful completion of 50 hours of continuing education approved by the American Medical Association or the American Osteopathic Association in the previous 12 months;

and

Three years of post residency experience and/or training in the practice of internal medicine.

and

Board Certification by the American Board of Medical Specialists or the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Possession of a current unrestricted license to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania issued by the Pennsylvania Medical Licensing Board or the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Licensing Board and possession of a current certification to prescribe medication from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.