Location & Practice Overview

This podiatry role is based in Chicago and delivered on-site within partnered skilled nursing facilities, forming part of a multi-specialty clinical service model focused on long-term care residents.

Geographic Base Chicago, Illinois
Facility Type Skilled nursing facilities
Practice Model Multi-specialty clinical services within long-term care
Care Delivery On-site facility-based
Service Line Podiatry within integrated medical and behavioral health support

Responsibilities

  • Perform comprehensive podiatric evaluations assessing skin integrity, vascular status, neurological function, and musculoskeletal conditions of the foot, ankle, and lower extremities.
  • Diagnose and treat infections, ulcers, deformities, nail disorders, and other lower-extremity pathology through routine and advanced procedures including nail debridement, callus reduction, wound debridement, and minor surgical interventions within scope of practice.
  • Develop individualized treatment plans emphasizing prevention and management of high-risk conditions such as diabetic foot ulcers and pressure injuries, while overseeing lower-extremity wound care in coordination with nursing and wound care teams.
  • Monitor chronic conditions affecting foot health, including diabetes-related complications and peripheral vascular disease, and educate residents, families, and facility staff on preventive foot care, footwear, and condition management.
  • Collaborate with nursing staff, rehabilitation therapists, and primary care providers; participate in care plan meetings; maintain accurate documentation completed within 72 hours of each encounter; and aim to provide services to approximately 80% of facility census.

Clinical oversight of any podiatry support staff and coordination of scheduling and documentation workflows within the facility are also part of day-to-day practice.

Qualifications & Requirements

Candidates must hold the core credentials required to practice independently and demonstrate relevant clinical experience suited to long-term care environments.

Degree
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) from an accredited program
Licensure
Active and unrestricted Illinois license to practice podiatric medicine
Board Status
Board certification or board eligibility preferred
Experience
4–5 years in podiatry; long-term care, geriatrics, or wound care experience strongly preferred
Clinical Skills
Strong knowledge of lower-extremity pathology, diabetic foot care, wound management, minor surgical procedures, and debridement

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation is not stated as a fixed salary in the posting. Based on comparable Vitae Health Systems podiatrist roles in the Chicago area, the estimated range is $100,000–$200,000 annually and is commonly structured around revenue generated from caseload volume.

  • Estimated compensation: $100,000–$200,000 annually (caseload-dependent)
  • Full malpractice coverage including tail insurance at no out-of-pocket cost
  • 401(k) retirement plan with company match
  • Consistent referral flow supporting steady patient volume
  • Up to $3,000 referral bonus for successful clinician referrals

Schedule & Work Environment

Work Setting On-site within skilled nursing facilities
Documentation Timeline Completed within 72 hours of encounter
Service Coverage Expectation Approximately 80% of facility census
Environment Interdisciplinary long-term care setting with nursing and therapy collaboration

Patient Population & Clinical Setting

Care is delivered exclusively to residents of skilled nursing facilities, a population that frequently presents with age-related and chronic medical complexities affecting the lower extremities.

Primary Population Skilled nursing facility residents
Clinical Context Long-term care and post-acute environment
Common Complexity High-risk foot conditions linked to diabetes, vascular disease, and limited mobility
Care Setting Facility-based, interdisciplinary resident care

Clinical Focus & Key Services

The clinical core of this position centers on comprehensive lower-extremity care tailored to the needs of skilled nursing residents, with particular emphasis on prevention and management of high-risk foot pathology.

Evaluation Focus Assessment of skin integrity, vascular and neurological status, and musculoskeletal conditions of the foot and ankle
High-Risk Condition Management Diabetic foot ulcers, pressure injuries, and related chronic complications
Procedural Services Nail and callus care, wound debridement, and minor surgical interventions within scope
Wound Care Support Lower-extremity wound management integrated with facility wound care teams

Role Highlights

Several structural features distinguish this position from typical office-based or hospital podiatry roles.

  • Dedicated skilled-nursing facility service model with built-in referral volume rather than independent patient acquisition
  • Integrated multi-specialty platform that places podiatry alongside internal medicine, psychiatry, and psychotherapy within the same organizational framework
  • Explicit expectation to reach approximately 80% of facility census, creating a high-volume, facility-embedded practice pattern
  • Documentation standard requiring completion within 72 hours, paired with clinical oversight responsibilities for support staff when applicable

About Vitae Health Systems

Vitae Health Systems is a multi-specialty healthcare organization founded in 2018 and headquartered in Chicago. It partners with skilled nursing facilities across the Midwest and East Coast to deliver integrated clinical services that include internal medicine, psychiatry, psychotherapy, and podiatry.

Founded 2018
Headquarters Chicago, Illinois
Service Footprint Midwest and East Coast skilled nursing facilities
Core Services Internal medicine, psychiatry, psychotherapy, and podiatry

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this role limited to a single skilled nursing facility or does it involve multiple sites?
The position centers on providing podiatric services to residents in skilled nursing facilities partnered with Vitae Health Systems in the Chicago area. Exact site assignment and travel between facilities are determined by the employer’s operational needs.
How is the 80% census coverage expectation applied in practice?
Providers are expected to deliver services to approximately 80% of the facility’s resident census. This metric reflects the high-volume, facility-embedded nature of the role rather than a fixed daily patient quota.
What level of autonomy exists for minor surgical procedures?
Minor surgical interventions are performed within the scope of podiatric practice and facility protocols. Clinical judgment remains with the podiatrist while care is coordinated with the facility’s interdisciplinary team.
Does the role include formal wound-care team leadership?
The podiatrist provides and oversees lower-extremity wound care treatment in collaboration with nursing and wound care teams, contributing specialized input rather than assuming sole administrative leadership of the facility wound program.
Are board-certified candidates strongly preferred over board-eligible candidates?
Board certification or board eligibility is preferred. An active unrestricted Illinois license and a DPM degree remain the core mandatory credentials.
How does the malpractice coverage with tail insurance work for this position?
Full malpractice coverage that includes tail insurance is provided at no out-of-pocket cost to the clinician, removing the need for separate personal tail policies upon departure.

Podiatrist in Chicago, IL

Vitae Health Systems is hiring a Podiatrist to deliver comprehensive lower-extremity care to residents of skilled nursing facilities in Chicago. The role sits within a multi-specialty clinical platform that also includes internal medicine, psychiatry, and psychotherapy, allowing coordinated support for complex long-term care populations. Core work centers on evaluation of skin, vascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal conditions of the foot and ankle, management of diabetic foot ulcers and pressure injuries, wound debridement, nail and callus procedures, and minor surgical interventions within scope. Candidates need a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine degree, an active unrestricted Illinois license, and ideally four to five years of experience with preference for long-term care, geriatrics, or wound care backgrounds. Board certification or eligibility is preferred. Compensation is estimated at $100,000–$200,000 annually based on comparable Vitae positions and is typically linked to caseload volume, accompanied by full malpractice coverage with tail, a 401(k) with company match, and a referral bonus opportunity. Documentation must be completed within 72 hours, and providers are expected to reach approximately 80 percent of facility census while collaborating closely with nursing, therapy, and primary care teams. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Chicago, Vitae partners with skilled nursing facilities across the Midwest and East Coast, offering a facility-embedded practice model distinct from traditional outpatient podiatry settings.

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