Visiting Physician Program

Definition

A Visiting Physician is a medical doctor with recent patient primary care experience who rotates through the clinical services of the Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) units for three to six months. The number of months is determined by the Medical Director and the Visiting Physician. For US graduates, there is a minimum education of three years of US residency in internal medicine (and hematology or oncology training is preferred). For foreign graduates, training in internal medicine and hematology or oncology fellowship training is mandatory. English language proficiency is required for acceptance into the program. All rotations begin on the first day of the month and end on the last day of the month, without exception.

Inpatient Service

On the Inpatient Service, the Visiting Physician serves as primary care physician for the daily care of five to six (5-6) patients on one of our two bone marrow transplant wards, along with other visitors and our own Residents, Hematology and Oncology Fellows, and Physician Assistants. The Visiting Physician works under an Attending Physician. In addition to being the primary care physician, responsibilities include patient care procedures such as lumbar punctures and bone marrow harvesting, critical care, daily rounds, and on-call duties. Visiting physicians function as primary care providers and should be prepared for an intensive inpatient experience. In an average month, each physician is on-call in-house with another MD or Physician Assistant four to five times. When not on call, the average day runs from 0800-1730. Everyone has two weekends off. Other weekends you will care for your own patients, but should be able to leave the hospital by 1300.

Outpatient Service

The Visiting Physician may also rotate through the Outpatient Department (OPD). Responsibilities include evaluating patients and donors as they arrive in Seattle (pre-transplant) and caring for problems after discharge from the Inpatient Service (before the patient returns home). Visiting physicians function as primary care providers and should be prepared for an intensive outpatient experience. In the OPD, the services are divided into adult autologous, adult allogeneic (including unrelated donor), and pediatric sections. There is no overnight call, but the visitor is expected to work two or three evenings (1700-2000) per month. Hours are 0800-1800. Visiting Physicians must spend at least one month on the Inpatient Service before they can work in the OPD.

Consultation Services

In addition, the Visiting Physician may rotate through the consultation services of Gastroenterology, Infectious Disease, Pulmonary/Intensive Care, and Long Term Follow-Up. The Visiting Physician does not act as a primary physician on the consultation services.

Compensation

There is no compensation provided by Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. All Visiting Physicians are required to have medical insurance coverage while working at the Center.

For More Information

Doctors interested in SCCA's Visiting Physician Program should contact Annette Gage at agage@seattlecca.org.