To prospective teammates,

I am the medical director for Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I have been a part of Sound Physicians since November 2016. I’m proud of the hospitalist practice we have built and welcome interest from advanced practice providers coming out of training or desiring a career change. I want to share more about it, specifically about our people, practice, and purpose, as you consider your next steps.

People

• We are a closely knit, established team of 14 physicians and 8 advanced practice providers. Additionally, along with myself as medical director, we have one associate medical director, two clinical performance nurses, and a Program Manager.
• Our team is highly diverse in education and experience, and we come from all over the world.
• Our team is involved in many committees and projects throughout the hospital annually. We would like to have at least two hospitalists involved in any given committee, which would provide a greater chance of having representation and help with time management. We encourage everyone to find a committee that feeds their passion.
• Our team has an excellent relationship with the administration. We have partnered with Mercy since 2015 and are a trusted and consulted team on many hospital-wide initiatives.
• As a team, we value our collaboration with the nurses and specialists throughout the hospital. Patients are our top priority, and we do a great job of always keeping that focus at the forefront.
• As a team, we like to support our greater local community by adopting a family around the holidays and supporting our
• local emergency shelter, Catholic Worker House.

Practice

• We welcome the challenge of managing various cases, varying in acuity and complexity.
• Our critical care team manages all ICU patients on vents, pressors, and BiPap. Our APP team does not manage patients in the ICU however, our physicians may assist from a medical management perspective from time to time.
• We respond to codes and rapid alerts on our patients, as well as if one is called and we are nearby. Our team is highly engaged in helping each other in any way we can.
• our schedule is predictable, as 7 on – 7 off. Generally, our APPs will work 7 am-5 pm and 4 pm-2 am rounding during the day shift (average of 12 patients per shift) and focusing on admissions during the evening shift (average of 7-8 admissions per shift) Volumes ebb and flow depending on the time of year and staffing.
• Our team has the greatest need for swing shift, so someone willing to assist in that role by working at least 6 evening shifts per month is ideal.
• As a team, we meet monthly for a team meeting and monthly for a patient experience touch base. Daily, we have a short morning huddle to secure handoffs and ensure everyone is ready for the day.
• We work in EPIC, with access to our own internal informatics platform.
• Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, and AD&D insurance, long- and short-term disability, 401k with match, paid medical malpractice and tail coverage, and annual CME allowance.

Purpose

• We put patients first. Always.
• Growth and development are key features of Sound’s practices, where teammates can expand their careers here locally and within the broader medical group.
• We’re a community-minded team and encourage our team members who want to contribute in and out of the hospital to help make our local community thrive.

Many who come to Cedar Rapids are pleasantly surprised to find a highly diverse population base. This is mainly due to major employers such as Collins Aerospace and Transamerica. These world-renowned companies, coupled with the University of Iowa (located 30 minutes from Cedar Rapids), equate to the celebration of cultural diversity that makes Cedar Rapids feel comfortable to many worldwide.

To learn more, please get in touch with my recruiting partner, who will put you in touch with me.

Sujan Vadarevu, MD
Medical Director- Hospital Medicine
Mercy Medical Center -Cedar Rapids, Iowa