University of California, Irvine logo
University of California, Irvine
Los Alamitos, California

Clinical Associate Physician - Los Alamitos Hospital Medicine Per Diem

Hospital MedicinePer Diem

Listed compensation

$177k-$378k

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 54m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Who We Are

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report.

The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs.

It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.

To learn more about UC Irvine, visit uci.edu.

UCI Health — Los Alamitos is a trusted full-service medical facility that has been part of the community for more than 50 years. We offer a wide range of services including 24-hour emergency care, cardiology, neurology, orthopaedics, women's health and senior health.

As a DNV-GL designated Comprehensive Stroke Center, we provide advanced stroke care when it matters most. Our dedicated outpatient pavilion supports imaging, infusion and radiation oncology services.

We also offer specialized wound care services, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, to help treat complex and slow-healing wounds. Whether you need specialized treatment or routine care, our expert team is committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care tailored to your needs.

Your Role on the Team

The University of California, Irvine is seeking qualified candidates for a Clinical Associate Hospitalist position for inpatient coverage. Duties will include clinical service primarily at the UCI site in Los Alamitos Hospital.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Candidates must possess an M.D./D.O. or equivalent degree
  • Board-certified or eligible in the field of Internal Medicine or Family Practice
  • Eligible for California licensure
  • Experienced in providing and/or oversight of care

Total Compensation

Per Diem shift rates for a Clinical Associate - Hospitalists range from $2,340 - $2,760 per 12-hour shift based on day vs night shift. Per-dem Clinical Associates will be paid bi-weekly based on hours worked during pay period.

Clinical Responsibilities Will Involve

  • Coordinate and ensure patient care coverage for Medicine services
  • Conduct face-to-face rounds with the care team
  • Collaborate with Emergency Medicine and Intensivists on cases; hospitalists will not serve as primary admitting providers.
  • Monitor patient stability and triage cases
  • Oversee consultations and collaborate with specialists
  • Participate in family meetings and patient care discussions
  • Ensure timely completion of patient notes within 24 hours
  • Maintain compliance with medical record standards and institutional policies

Primary Responsibilities of This Position

  • Maintain the highest standards of safety and quality in patient care
  • Provide appropriate general hospital medicine care and management of patients including but not limited to evaluation, treatment, and follow-up care.
  • Supervise individuals who participate in the care of patients
  • Model professionalism and patient-centered care
  • Participate in quality improvement initiatives
  • Complete computer-based training and timesheets on schedule
  • Support development of clinical protocols and care delivery optimization

Your Role on the Team

  • Demonstrated experience in quality improvement to improve patient outcomes.
  • Leadership skills: ability to motivate, inspire, communicate with patients, families, staff, faculty, and peers to maintain a professional, team-based approach in the care of patients.
  • Adhere to departmental policies, procedures, and objectives while in compliance of all UC policies and procedures. Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with all state and federal privacy laws.

What It Takes to be Successful

Required

Demonstrated experience in quality improvement to improve patient outcomes.

Adhere to departmental policies, procedures, and objectives while in compliance of all UC policies and procedures. Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with all state and federal privacy laws.

Leadership skills; ability to motivate, inspire, communicate with faculty, residents, staff, and peers to maintain a professional, team-based approach in the care of patients.

Candidates must possess a M.D. or D.O. degree

  • Board-certified and have California licensure
  • Active and current Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) certification
  • Eligible for California licensure
  • Experienced in providing and/or oversight of care

Total Rewards

In addition to the salary range listed below, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.

Per Diem shift rates for a Clinical Associate - Hospitalists range from $2,700 - $2,940 per 12-hour shift based on day vs night shift. Per-dem Clinical Associates will be paid bi-weekly based on hours worked during pay period.

Conditions of Employment

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:

  • Background Check and Live Scan
  • Employment Misconduct*
  • Legal Right to work in the United States
  • Vaccination Policies
  • Smoking and Tobacco Policy

Drug Free Environment

*Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.

  • California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
  • E-Verify

Pre-Placement Health Evaluation

Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page - hr.uci.edu

Closing Statement

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact Human Resources at (949) 824-0500 or eec@uci.edu.

Consideration for Work Authorization Sponsorship

Must be able to provide proof of work authorization

Key Responsibilities

The Clinical Associate will provide inpatient hospital medicine coverage, including conducting rounds, monitoring patient stability, and collaborating with specialists. They are responsible for maintaining high standards of patient safety, documenting care, and participating in quality improvement initiatives.

Requirements

Candidates must possess an M.D. or D.O. degree and be board-certified or eligible in Internal Medicine or Family Practice. A valid California medical license and current DEA certification are required for this role.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure
Experience
5+ years of experience

Certifications

DEA LicenseBoard Certification

Key Skills

CommunicationMedical record documentationTeam-based care

Hospital Medicine — Physician Career Context

Of the 50 active Hospital Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 86% have no call, 52% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$278k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $251k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

What does the Hospital Medicine market look like in California?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score3.0 / 10 · above average in hospital medicineranked against 1,184 Hospital Medicine listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$177k–$378kHospital Medicine median $361k (middle half $300k–$588k)124 comparable listings, Oct 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$251k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Hospital Medicine listings in California120 active1,188 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 2% remote · 86% no call · 52% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedCalifornia Physician listings: 32% state a sign-on bonus (median $50k) · 27% offer loan repayment2,711 active listings, Oct 2026
Hospital Medicine pay trend+7.7% vs prior quarter—through Sep 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (1,184 Hospital Medicine listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Oct 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top contract/1099 Hospital Medicine Jobs

29 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

29 jobs · 10 employers
3
<$300k
20
$300k-335k
6
$335k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

28 jobs · 10 employers
401k / retirement match
96% this job
Sign-on bonus
14%
Loan repayment
11%
PSLF eligible
11%
Relocation assistance
7%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Physician - Hospital Medicine - Providence Regional Medical Center Everett

Vituity · Everett, Washington

$275k-$900k
#2

Physician - Hospital Medicine - Nocturnist

Med America · Warner Robins, Georgia

$275k-$900k
#3

CDI Physician Advisor, Greater East Bay

$278k-$445k
#4

Physician - Hospitalist - Swing Shift

$358k-$366k
+ 27 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 2.1this job 3.0
Better work-life than 60% of Hospital Medicine listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,184 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

University of California, Irvine logo

About University of California, Irvine

Hospitals and Health Care
Orange, California
5,001-10,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical insurance
Sick and vacation time
Retirement savings plans
Employee discounts

Living in Los Alamitos

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.49M≈ 8.4× annual pay
Typical market rent
$3,143/mo≈ 21% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
31 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
113.6
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.