Telemedicine Physician Jobs in Iowa
Find work opportunities and resources for telemedicine physician jobs in Iowa.
Most of the United States is being hit with a physician shortage, and rural areas like Iowa are the most affected. According to research published in 2022, Iowa ranks 44th in the nation for a measure of physicians per 100,000 patients.
Without enough doctors, it’s difficult for Iowa’s residents to access needed care. This means there’s a growing demand for physicians in the Hawkeye State. Virtual care is also on the rise, leading to a number of remote physician opportunities in Iowa.
How To Become a Remote Physician in Iowa
Remote doctors are held to the same standard of care and need the same qualifications as physicians who treat patients in an in-person healthcare facility.
Iowa has a variety of telehealth physician jobs available, and in order to become eligible for one, you must follow the traditional medical education and training path. You’ll also need to be board-eligible or board-certified. These are the steps you’ll need to take to become a virtual care physician in Iowa:
Education: Aspiring remote physicians will need to earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution before applying to med school to get a Medical Doctor (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree.
Exams: Towards the end of your schooling, you’ll need to complete the first portion of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). Passing this exam is necessary to become a licensed physician in Iowa.
Residency: Once you have your medical degree, it’s time to choose a specialty and apply for residency programs. Telemedicine companies often seek out candidates with specialties in internal medicine, emergency medicine, and family medicine as they tend to treat a broad range of conditions and patient demographics.
Become licensed to practice medicine in Iowa: To legally practice medicine in Iowa, you need to pass the last part of the USMLE exam. For those on the path to become a Doctor of Osteopathic medicine, you need to complete the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA). The last step is to submit an application for medical licensure to the Iowa Board of Medicine, along with a $562 application fee.
Board certification: To obtain board certification, you’ll need to complete the ABMS exam. Note that to be eligible for most telehealth positions, you’ll need to be board certified.
Requirements for Remote Physicians in Iowa
Practicing as a remote physician offers a great opportunity to supplement your income while working from home on a flexible schedule. There are a number of full-time and part-time telehealth positions available for Iowa MDs and DOs.
Once you obtain licensure and board-certification, you can choose which type of virtual care position suits you best whether you’re living in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, or anywhere else in the state.
Here’s what you should know before applying to telehealth jobs in Iowa:
Work-from-home physicians: Remote physicians are expected to maintain the same standard of care as they would if they were treating patients in person. The key difference is that virtual care physicians use technology to conduct synchronous (video or phone) and asynchronous (chat) patient visits. Note that legally, telehealth physicians can only treat patients who are physically located in the state where they have a medical license.
Additional training: The standard of care in telemedicine is the same as for in-person care, and you will not need to complete any state-mandated training to practice virtual care. However, many telehealth companies provide onboarding for clinicians to learn how to use relevant technology and platforms, including best practices for good webside manner.
Necessary documentation: When you’re ready to apply for virtual care jobs, make sure to update your resume and provide appropriate paperwork showing your education and credentials.
Telemedicine companies typically post roles they’re hiring for on sites like Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, and LinkedIn. These job posting sites are a great place to start your search for virtual care opportunities. Wheel matches physicians with telehealth roles and has a number of positions available for MDs and DOs in Iowa. Check out this article for tips on how to evaluate telehealth job opportunities in primary care.
How Wheel Works
Wheel is the simplest and most flexible way to access multiple telehealth companies with one platform. We empower physicians like you to build your practice around your schedule and your life. Here, working in virtual care is easy.
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