Job Description

Summary

To ensure qualified medical direction and consultation for the delivery of hospice services and programs.  To demonstrate that the Medical Director/hospice team physician has overall responsibility for patient care through documentation that demonstrates interaction/ communication with the attending physician as necessary for appropriate medical care.

The hospice Medical Director will provide oversight of physician services by complementing attending physician care, acting as a medical resource to the interdisciplinary group, assuring continuity of hospice medical services, and assuring appropriate measures to control patient symptoms.  The Medical director will serve as a hospice champion – promoting and representing the program to physicians, physician groups, discharge planners, other referral sources, community health organizations, and potential donors, as appropriate.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

include the following. Other duties may be assigned as necessary.

• Devoting his/her best ability to the proper management of the program
• Providing overall medical direction to the program including supervision of all hospice physician employees and contract hospice physicians
• Assuring that the established policies, bylaws, rules, and regulations of the organization are followed in the program
• Adhering to requirements, terms, and conditions required by Medicare Conditions of Participation, CHAP, and federal and state statutes governing the provision of services
• Establishing and continually reviewing policies and procedures related to patient care, medical education, and emergency procedures
• Developing and continually reviewing, in cooperation with the Executive Director/Administrator and/or Clinical Director, criteria to monitor the quality of the education programs provided to physicians, personnel, and volunteers
• Evaluating quality assurance and performance improvement plans and monitoring to identify medical education needs in cooperation with the Executive Director/Administrator and/or Clinical Director
• Proposing organizational programs to address the needs identified (with the assistance and input of consultants of the specialties where medical education needs were identified)
• Working with the Executive Director/Administrator and/or Clinical Director, after implementation of the programs, to determine the impact of said programs on the quality of care
• Serving as a hospice champion in the community
• Acting as a liaison to community physicians by providing consultation and education to colleagues and attending physicians related to admission criteria for hospice and palliative care
• Acting as medical liaison with other physicians
• Providing training regarding the medical aspects of caring for terminally ill patients to physicians, personnel, and volunteers
• Reviewing patients’ medical eligibility for hospice services, in accordance with hospice program policies and procedures, and establishing the plan of care in conjunctions with attending physician and interdisciplinary group prior to providing care
• Providing written certification of the terminal illness including a short clinical narrative for all subsequent benefit periods and may provide a face-to-face encounter visit with the patient prior to third and subsequent benefit periods
• Consulting with attending physicians regarding pain and symptoms management for hospice patients
• Managing oversight of the patient’s medications and treatments. This medication management responsibility includes medical decision making regarding changing, prescribing, discontinuing meds.
• Acting as medical resource to the interdisciplinary group
• Attending interdisciplinary group meetings and working in a team approach with the group
• In conjunction with the attending physician and interdisciplinary group, reviewing and updating the plan of care every 15 days, or more frequently as needed.
• Documenting care provided in the patient’s clinical record, providing evidence of progression of the end-stage disease process
• Acting as primary physician for patients whose referring/attending physicians desire to relinquish that care and/or if the referring/attending physicians are not available for further contact
• Maintaining current knowledge of the latest research and trends in hospice care and pain/symptom management
• Reviewing and developing protocols for treatment, and proposing the most current options for interventions
• Demonstrating knowledge in communications, and counseling patients and family/caregivers dealing with end-of-life issues
• Participating in resolution of interpersonal conflict and issues of clinical and ethical concern
• Ensuring that competent physician services are routinely available on a 24-hour basis to meet the general medical needs of the hospice patient to the extent the needs are not met by the attending physician
• Assisting with evaluation of protocols and procedures with respect to quality and cost outcomes
• All other duties as assigned by supervisor

Qualification Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Completion of medical education and relevant residency training required. Fellowship
• in Palliative Medicine preferred.
• Experience: Work experience in internal medicine, geriatrics, palliative medicine or other relevant field of medicine required. Work experience in a certified hospice program and administrative experience preferred.
• License/Certification: Physician licensure by the State of in which you work as a doctor of medicine or osteopathy required; board certification in hospice and palliative medicine preferred.
• Must hold, in good standing, a license as a Physician, issued by the State in which you work
• Able to demonstrate knowledge and well-developed skills in hospice philosophy, medical aspects of hospice care including recent research, trends in hospice care and pain and symptom management
• Ability to work independently, while collaborating with other team members
• Ability of work with patients/families of all ages
• Excellent time management and organizational skills to manage multiple tasks
• Self-motivated and self-directed
• Ability to focus on accuracy and detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated leadership skills to facilitate appropriate direction and supervision to staff
• Ability to adapt to changing Company priorities
• Demonstrated understanding of, and ability to effectively use various computer software applications.
• CPR certified.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Must have and maintain in good standing professional license, certificate, or registration, as applicable.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee regularly is required to stand, walk, sit, climb stairs, use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.

The employee frequently lifts and/or moves up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job generally operates in a clerical office setting. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines. While performing the duties of this position, the employee may travel by automobile and be exposed to changing weather conditions.

Comments

This description is intended to describe the essential job functions, the general supplemental functions, and the essential requirements for the performance of this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and requirements of a person so classified. Other functions may be assigned, and management retains the right to add or change the duties at any time.

NOTICE: Successful completion of a drug screen prior to employment is part of our background process, which includes medical and recreational marijuana.

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By submitting your application, you are confirming that you are legally authorized to work in the United States.

JR# JR257055