Primary Care Provider

Description

LIFE Pittsburgh’s Primary Care Provider Role Overview 

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 place. 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 holistic care plans. 
• Manage acute and chronic conditions while prioritizing preventive care and proactive intervention. 
• 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 rather than simply treating symptoms.  

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. 

Participants typically have a 130:1 participant-to-provider ratio, attending Adult Day Health Centers and receiving home visits as needed. Providers visit sub-acute or long-term settings regularly and see 5-7 participants daily for episodic events. The primary schedule is M-F 8am-5pm at one Adult Day Center, with some flexibility for participant and family needs. Call duty is 1:6 weekdays starting at 4:30pm, and 1:6 on weekends, primarily via phone but may involve visits for seriously ill participants or end-of-life care. 

Ideal Candidate Profile 

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. 
• 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 is beneficial but not mandatory. 

The Opportunity 

This is more than just a primary care position—it’s 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; CRNPs must have an active Pennsylvania RN and CRNP license with prescriptive authority
• Board Certification: MDs must be Board Eligible/Board Certified in Internal Medicine or Family Medicine; CRNPs must have Board Certification as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP), Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP), or equivalent
• 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