Picture yourself walking into Good Shepherd Medical Center on a crisp Oregon morning, greeting colleagues who genuinely respect your time and expertise, and preparing for a day of meaningful inpatient medicine without the overwhelming census numbers that plague so many hospitalist programs. As the hospitalist at Good Shepherd, you'll be the physician who admits every patient from the emergency department, providing continuity and comprehensive care to a manageable daily census of 25–28 patients shared between just two daytime providers. This isn't the burnout-inducing model of 20+ patients per physician you might have experienced elsewhere—this is hospitalist medicine the way it should be practiced, with time to think, collaborate, and deliver excellent care.
Your practice will serve as the backbone of inpatient care for Umatilla County and Northeastern Oregon, a region where Good Shepherd functions as the sole hospital for miles around. The community depends on you, but you won't be alone in that responsibility. You'll work alongside dedicated subspecialists in cardiology, pulmonology, nephrology, rheumatology, neurology, and a robust surgical team, creating a collaborative environment where complex cases receive expert input without the territorial tensions common in larger academic centers. When you need a pulmonologist's perspective on a difficult respiratory case or a cardiologist's guidance on acute coronary syndrome management, they're readily available—not via telemedicine from hundreds of miles away, but right there in the hospital, invested in the same patients and community you serve.
Your work schedule reflects Good Shepherd's genuine commitment to physician wellness—a commitment backed by action, not just words in a policy manual. The preferred full-time model offers a 5-on/10-off rotation, giving you ten consecutive days off every two weeks to truly disconnect, travel, pursue hobbies, or simply be present with your family. If you prefer longer stretches of clinical immersion, a 10-on/20-off model is also available. Compare this to the relentless 7-on/7-off schedules many hospitalists endure, where you never quite recover before the next week begins, and the value becomes immediately clear.
Your clinical days run from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, allowing you to round comprehensively, admit new patients, and collaborate with consultants during normal business hours when support services are fully staffed. Unlike facilities where hospitalists juggle admissions, discharges, and floor patients in a chaotic scramble, your workflow here follows a more natural rhythm. You'll typically handle 3–7 admissions during your shift (split with your colleague), manage 1–5 discharges, and provide ongoing care for your existing patients—all with the support of two full-time physician assistants during daytime hours.
You'll report directly to Dr. Delamarter, the Hospitalist Medical Director, who provides clinical leadership and mentorship while respecting your clinical autonomy. For administrative matters, Tammy Bender, the Practice Manager, ensures you have the resources and support needed to practice effectively. This dual reporting structure means you're never caught between competing priorities—clinical concerns go to clinical leadership, administrative needs go to administrative leadership, and both work collaboratively to support your success.
As Good Shepherd continues its expansion and evolution, physician leadership opportunities exist within the growing health system. Whether you're interested in quality improvement, protocol development, or taking on a more formal leadership role as the system adds subspecialty lines and grows its regional presence, pathways for professional advancement are available for hospitalists who want to shape the future of the organization.
This is a permanent, employed position within an independent, community-owned health system that maintains the rare combination of financial stability ($300 million in assets with zero debt) and genuine community accountability. You're joining an established team, not building a program from scratch, yet you'll have the opportunity to influence how hospitalist services evolve as Good Shepherd transitions into a larger regional healthcare system to meet the growing needs of Northeastern Oregon.