Job Description-Internal Medicine Specialist

Why You Should Consider Us

Our Mission: To Provide Excellence in Care with Love.

We achieve this by:

•       Practicing the highest quality team-based care;
•       Creating one practice within a multi-specialty environment;
•       Caring for our patients, each other, our clients, and our family veterinarians;
•       Creating a trusting, emotional, and empathetic bond.

As a member of the Four Seasons Veterinary Specialists team, your desire for medicine and kindness for pets and people is matched with a commitment to your professional growth.

More information about our hospital can be found at: www.4seasonsvetspecialists.com https://youtu.be/YHfVfHufi-M www.facebook.com/vetspecialistsloveland

BENEFITS:

Work hours and days are flexible, either full or part-time. A competitive salary and a signing bonus are offered. Benefits include health insurance, additional voluntary insurance benefits, paid sick and safe leave, personal time off, holidays, 401(k) program with match, reimbursement of association dues, veterinary license and liability insurance, paid CE days with CE allowance, employee pet medical care (or pet insurance) benefit, and more.

JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking an Internal Medicine Specialist to join our collaborative veterinary team. In this role, you will diagnose and treat complex medical conditions in small animal patients, with a focus on gastrointestinal, renal, endocrine, hematologic, immune, and respiratory disorders. The ideal candidate brings advanced clinical expertise, strong diagnostic acumen, and a commitment to developing individualized treatment plans that support both patient needs and client goals.

As part of a multidisciplinary hospital, you will work closely with specialists in surgery, radiology, oncology, cardiology, and emergency/critical care to deliver high quality, patient centered care. You will also collaborate with support staff and referring veterinarians to ensure seamless communication and continuity of care. Through thoughtful conversations with pet owners, you will help provide Spectrum of Care options that align with each family’s circumstances and expectations.

Beyond clinical excellence, we are looking for someone who will foster a positive and collaborative culture that reflects Four Seasons’ mission, vision, and values.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Comprehensive Patient Work Ups

• A cornerstone of this role is the ability to execute thorough, methodical workups for patients with complex presentations. This includes:
•       Obtaining a complete history in conjunction with technicians.
•       Prioritizing diagnostic approaches based on clinical suspicion and patient stability.
•       Integrating history, imaging, lab data, and prior treatment outcomes into a cohesive diagnostic process.
•       Balancing cost-effective care with comprehensive case management, guided by best practices and evidence-based medicine.
•       Reassessing and adjusting plans as new data emerges, ensuring the patient remains at the center of clinical decision-making.
•       Recommending all appropriate diagnostics, while being able to formulate new plans if gold standard is not an option for the client.

Client Communication and Education

•       Convey physical examination findings, differential diagnoses, and recommendations for diagnostic evaluation and appropriate therapy (in-patient or outpatient).
•       Propose alternative diagnostic and therapeutic plans considering owner capabilities (financial or otherwise).
•       Educate clients on relevant disease processes (e.g., immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, diabetes), potential complications of therapy or procedures, and prognosis.
•       Provide timely updates to owners regarding the status and financial aspects of hospitalized patients.
•       Respond promptly to client phone calls.
•       Ascertain if clients have further questions or requirements prior to their departure from the examination room, concluding phone conversations, or patient discharge.

Referring Veterinarian Communication

•       Complete patient records and send them to referring veterinarians within 24 hours of the patient being seen.
•       Send detailed SOAP daily if a shared patient is hospitalized.
•       Respond to/answer referring veterinarian phone calls whenever possible, and return calls in a timely manner.
•       Treat referring veterinarians as a team member of the hospital and ensure that they feel valued as such.

Core Diagnostic Capabilities

The Internal Medicine Specialist must demonstrate a high level of proficiency in selecting, performing, and interpreting advanced diagnostic procedures. These skills are essential for accurate case assessment, comprehensive workups, and evidence-based treatment planning. This is not an exclusive list.

Imaging & Endoscopy

• Endoscopy (gastroscopy, colonoscopy, bronchoscopy)
• Rhinoscopy and cystoscopy
• Fluoroscopy
• Communication of results of abdominal and thoracic ultrasonography (including guided aspirates/biopsies) (Ultrasound studies performed by radiologist or sonographer)
•  Communication of computed tomography (CT) results (soft reads by non-radiologist clinicians; interpretation by radiologist
• Communication of results of radiographic studies (chest, abdominal, contrast studies, soft reads by non-radiologist clinicians; interpretations by radiologist)

Laboratory & Fluid Analysis

•       Comprehensive hematology and biochemistry interpretation
•       Urinalysis and urine sediment evaluation
•                 Endocrine function testing (eg. ACTH stim, low-dose/high-dose dex suppression, thyroid panels)
•       Coagulation profiles
•       Blood gas and electrolyte analysis
•       Cytology and biopsy interpretation
•       Infectious disease testing (PCR, serology, antigen testing)

Procedures & Sampling Techniques

•       Fine needle aspirates (guided and blind)
•       Bone marrow aspiration and core biopsies
•       Thoracocentesis and abdominocentesis
•       Pericardiocentesis
•       Arthrocentesis
•       CSF collection and interpretation
•       Tracheal/bronchoalveolar lavage
•       Esophageal and nasoesophageal feeding tube placement

Monitoring & In-Patient Management

•       Blood pressure measurement (Doppler and oscillometric)
•       Central line placement and fluid therapy planning
•       Serial glucose and electrolyte monitoring
•       Telemetry and ECG interpretation
•       Critical care diagnostics in collaboration with emergency/ICU
•       Esophagostomy tube placement and maintenance

Medical Record Responsibilities

•       Follow AAHA guidelines for comprehensive medical records.
•                Write exemplary medical records including presenting complaints, history, physical examination findings, case assessment, plan of action, recommendations declined       by clients, prognosis and working diagnosis (if able).
•       Complete medical records and send to the referring veterinarian within 24-hours (outpatients).
•                 Complete daily SOAP for any hospitalized pets and send to the referring veterinarian at the end of the day shift.

Pharmacy Duties

•       Prescribe appropriate medication for patient conditions with appropriate dosing.
•       Approve prescriptions, review labels for accuracy.
•       Help in maintaining the security of controlled substances.

Promotes a Positive Work Environment, Teamwork & Staff Efficiency/Education

•       Offer encouragement and praise.
•       Foster a positive working environment throughout the practice.
•       Deliver constructive feedback as necessary.
•       Serve as a secure avenue for inquiries or reporting medical discrepancies.
•       Demonstrate willingness to assist staff with their responsibilities when required.
•                 Effectively communicate pertinent patient/client information to colleagues during case transfer rounds.
•       Clearly communicate instructions to staff in a respectful manner.

Financial Responsibilities

•       Correctly communicate the desired plan for a pet to the technical staff to ensure appropriate cost estimates can be generated.
•    Clearly communicate costs to clients.
•       Provide current invoice amounts to clients when a pet is hospitalized, or ensure it is provided. Ensure new cost estimates are provided in a timely manner for continued care.
•     Follow hospital guidelines for client deposit/payment policies.
•     Does not waste clinic resources.

Marketing and Outreach

•       Contribute to marketing and outreach by visiting family veterinarians and providing phone consultations.
•       Creating educational content by presenting continuing education programs at regional and local events.
•       Attendance is encouraged at other marketing and community events which Four Seasons is a part of, such as Humane Society 5K races, the W.O.L.F. Sanctuary Gala, etc.

Meeting Attendance

      Attend the following meetings:

•       Daily shift rounds, on-site at the hospital.
•       Annual all staff meeting
•       All doctor meetings (quarterly)
•       Leadership development sessions (quarterly)

      Grand Rounds attendance is strongly encouraged. Some Grand Rounds are mandatory. Recordings may be available if you are not able to attend in real-time.

      Attendance at Four Seasons’ twice yearly Continuing Education/Dinner events is strongly encouraged.

***Other duties may be assigned as the need arises***

QUALIFICATIONS

•       Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent from an accredited institution.
•       Completion of a residency in veterinary internal medicine through ACVIM or ECVIM.
•       Board certification strongly preferred; board-eligible candidates will be considered.
•       Licensed or eligible to practice veterinary medicine in the state of Colorado.
•                 Demonstrated expertise in complex case management, advanced diagnostics, and internal systems medicine.
•                Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including with clients and cross-functional teams.
•       Prior experience in a specialty or referral hospital is preferred.

SAFETY

•       Follows OSHA and USP guidelines concerning safety and handling of hazardous materials.
•                 Follows established hospital safety guidelines regarding animal handling, controlled drugs, radiation protection, bite wounds and the handling/care of equipment.
•       Familiar with federal and state animal health laws, including OSHA and DEA regulations.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Veterinarians and staff at Four Seasons are regularly required to:

•       Must be able to stand, walk, and sit for extended periods.
•       Use hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
•       Reach with hands and arms in various directions.
•       Frequently stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
•       Communicate effectively through speech and hearing.
•       Occasionally required to climb or balance.
•       Occasionally required to detect and identify smells or tastes.
•       Must be able to frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
•       Occasionally required to lift and/or move more than 100 pounds with assistance.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

•       Frequently exposed to the risk of radiation while performing diagnostic imaging procedures.
•                Occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, and toxic or caustic chemicals.
•       Noise level is typically moderate.
•       May be exposed to animals and environments where zoonotic diseases are present, posing a risk of disease transmission.