Pella Regional Health Center is recruiting a board-certified or board-eligible adult rheumatologist to join an established outpatient practice in central Iowa. The position grows the existing solo rheumatology practice into a two-physician group, addressing steady demand and current wait times of 3 weeks for established patients and 4 to 6 weeks for new patients. The opportunity offers an outpatient-focused schedule, no formal call, and a stable patient base built over the last six years.
| Specialty | Adult Rheumatology |
|---|---|
| Setting | Hospital-employed outpatient practice |
| Position Type | Growth position, partnering with the established rheumatologist |
| Clinic Days | 4 to 4.5 days per week |
| Patient Volume | 8 to 10 patients per day |
| Call | None, after-hours nurse triage line only |
| Inpatient | Minimal |
| EMR | MEDITECH |
| Employer | Pella Regional Health Center |
| Location | Pella, Iowa, 40 miles southeast of Des Moines |
The incoming rheumatologist will partner with the current solo rheumatologist to expand the practice and reduce wait times. The practice has a strong regional referral base, established workflows, and trained nursing staff already in place. The position is appropriate for either an experienced rheumatologist seeking a partner-style practice or a recent fellowship graduate interested in mentorship and a high-quality outpatient environment.
Pella Regional Health Center serves a wide referral area that extends well beyond Marion County.
| Patient Origination | Share of Patients |
|---|---|
| Pella (ZIP 50219) | 61.6% |
| Knoxville | 15.9% |
| Ottumwa | 9.8% |
| Monroe | 5.4% |
| Oskaloosa | 3.8% |
The rheumatology practice draws additional patients from Burlington, northern Missouri, the Iowa City corridor, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and as far west as Omaha. Rheumatology referrals are longitudinal in nature, and patients frequently travel significant distances to access the specialty.
Rheumatology is an undersupplied specialty across Iowa. Pella Regional currently operates the only adult rheumatology practice in the immediate region, drawing referrals from a 25-physician primary care network plus 10 to 12 advanced practice providers within the Pella Regional system, along with outside referral sources across central and southeast Iowa.
Required:
Preferred:
The standard schedule is 4 to 4.5 clinic days per week. Daily patient volume runs 8 to 10 patients, with appointment lengths of 30 minutes for follow-ups and longer for new consultations. There is no formal call rotation. Patients with after-hours concerns are directed to the emergency department or the nurse triage line. The practice handles a very small inpatient consult volume, with most acute issues managed in the ED or referred out.
The rheumatologist is hospital-employed and reports through Pella Regional Health Center administration. Day-to-day clinical autonomy rests with the physician; operational and administrative matters are handled in coordination with the clinic manager and senior leadership.