Please Note: Two General Surgery Positions Are Currently Available
Palouse Surgeons is a general surgery practice that is owned by Whitman Hospital and Medical Center, Pullman Regional Hospital, and Gritman Medical Center. The practice serves a population of 80,000 people, 30,000 of whom are students at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington and the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. This is a great opportunity for a physician to enjoy a slower paced family life with a growing practice in the unique setting of two land grant universities eight miles apart in Pullman, Washington and Moscow, Idaho. This region boasts an excellent lifestyle, public and private schools, sporting and cultural events. The Pullman and Moscow area, "The Palouse", is close to numerous recreational facilities, lakes and within driving distance of Spokane, Washington and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
For more information about this exciting, growing practice opportunity contact Jim Duffy, MD,
Director of Physician Retention & Recruitment, at (509) 432-1863 or send
e-mail to
To learn more about any of the available physician positions that are currently available, click on one of the links below or contact or send e-mail to
Practice Environment
The practice is owned by Whitman Hospital and Medical Center, Pullman Regional Hospital, and Gritman Medical Center.
There will be a minimum of four (4.5) general surgeons that form the group practice for the Palouse
Maximum call responsibility will be one in four (1 in 4) with a focus on identifying opportunities to make it less of a strain on each physician
All physicians will cover clinic patients as well as scheduled and emergency surgery needs and inpatient care needs
Physicians will be guaranteed a specific amount of time off as well as guaranteed a minimum amount of CME time
Time off does not come at the expense of the remaining physicians just having to "work harder" but is arranged through acceptable locum tenens physicians or through associations with groups in Spokane
Practice Model
Hospitals are owners of Palouse Surgeons, LLC and physicians and all staff will be employed by Palouse Surgeons, LLC
Physicians will be employed by Palouse Surgeons as full-time employees with their key responsibilities being to provide patient care services in the office, the operating room, the inpatient units, and the emergency department
Physicians will also be members of the organized medical staff at each hospital and participate in appropriate duties and responsibilities attending that appointment
As employed physicians they will have significant input for organizing the flow of the practice and the way in which patients are scheduled in the office and for surgery
There seems to be an opportunity to organize the practice with the on-call physician doing all the hospital rounding (surgical hospitalist) and the other physicians being able to focus on clinic patients and scheduled surgery
The functioning of the practice will be, as much as possible, reflective of a private practice in all material aspects (hospital owned but surgeon run)
There will be clinic locations, in Pullman, Moscow, and Colfax with a fully integrated EMR system that connects all offices as well as being interfaced with the hospitals. EMR system and additional clinic sites to be implemented as soon as is practicable.
All expenses related to the practice will be managed by Palouse Surgeons and not be a responsibility of the physicians
Quarterly meetings will be scheduled between the Practice and physicians to review the practice activity and troubleshoot problems, identify opportunities, and make improvements
Compensation and Benefits
Base compensation will be organized with the following schedule:
Board eligible surgeon - $300,000 per year
Board certified surgeon - $325,000 per year
Board certified surgeon with 5 years experience - $350,000
Target production for base compensation equals 480 work RVUs per month or 5,760 work RVUs per year.
For every RVU produced by a physician that is above the base target of 600 per month there will be a monthly payment to physician that is based on the following schedule:
Board eligible surgeon - $25.00 per work RVU
Board certified surgeon - $27.10 per work RVU
Board certified surgeon with 5 years experience - $29.20 per work RVU
Physicians in their first year with the practice will be offered a sign-on bonus in lieu of the incentive compensation in the first year.
Adjustments to base salary will be considered each year to assure a competitive posture with market conditions
Benefits will include medical and dental coverage, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, disability insurance, worker?s compensation, and FICA
Each physician will receive 35 days paid vacation
Each physician will receive 2 weeks for CME activities
In addition to allotted time off for CME physicians will receive a $5,000 annual CME allowance
Physicians and family members would have 20% of medical costs incurred at one of the hospitals paid by Palouse Surgeons after payments have been made by insurance
A competitive retirement plan will be instituted that will meet the long-term planning needs of physicians and staff and will include personal contribution opportunities as well as a defined matching percentage from Palouse Surgeons
Physicians would be covered for malpractice insurance by Palouse Surgeons
Physicians will be reimbursed for costs associated with maintaining adequate internet access, assuring a minimum level of personal and general liability coverage on personal vehicles used to fulfill duties of the practice, and for mileage traveled in duties related to the practice.
