Medical Director

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities

• Providing overall medical direction to the program
• Assuring that the established policies, bylaws, rules, and regulations of the organization are followed
• Adhering to requirements, terms, and conditions required by Medicare Conditions of Participation, accrediting body, and federal and state statutes governing the provision of services
• Participating as an active member of the Interdisciplinary group responsible for establishing and continually reviewing policies and procedures related to patient care, emergency procedures, and the infection control program
• Developing and continually reviewing, in cooperation with the Executive Director/Administrator and Director of Clinical Services, criteria to monitor the quality of the education programs provided to physicians, personnel, and volunteers
• Evaluating quality assessment performance improvement (QAPI) plans and monitoring to identify medical education needs in cooperation with the Executive Director/Administrator and Director of Clinical Services
• Actively participating in QAPI meetings and Performance Improvement Projects (PIPs)
• Proposing organizational programs to address identified needs (with the assistance and input of consultants of the specialties where medical education needs were identified)
• Working with the Executive Director/Administrator and Director of Clinical Services, after implementation of the programs, to determine the impact of said programs on the quality of care
• Reviewing and developing protocols for treatment, and proposing the most current options for interventions
• Aiding in the evaluation of protocols and procedures with respect to quality and cost outcomes
• 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
• Education and outreach to practicing physicians and others engaged in healthcare services regarding the hospice program and its potential benefits to patients
• Reviewing the clinical information for each hospice patient before the certification or recertification period and providing written certification that it is anticipated that the patient's life expectancy is 6 months or less if the illness runs its normal course
• Establishing the plan of care in conjunctions with attending physician and interdisciplinary group prior to providing care
• Writing certification of terminal illness
• Reviewing the clinical record and/or performing a medical examination to confirm the appropriateness of hospice services
• Performing face-to-face encounters within thirty (30) days of the third and subsequent hospice benefit certification periods and attesting to the encounter
• (NP may complete the encounter and report findings to the hospice physician)
• Consulting with attending physicians regarding pain and symptoms management for hospice patients
• Managing oversight of the patient’s medications and treatments
• Acting as medical resource to the hospice 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 at least every 15 days, or more frequently as needed
• Aiding in the development and implementation of the plan of care that is coordinated with the attending physician
• 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
• Ensuring the availability of physician services and providing a substitute in the absence of the attending physician
• Maintaining current knowledge of the latest research and trends in hospice care and pain/symptom management
• Demonstrating knowledge in communications, and counseling patients and family/caregivers dealing with end-of-life issues
• Provides periodic reviews of the quality of clinical care provided and the quality of the documentation of visits made by physicians and physician extenders
• Ensures proper physician participation and support to the Interdisciplinary Group in IDG meetings and in relation to patient care in the field
• Participates in the selection, onboarding and orientation processes for new Associate Medical Directors, physicians and/or physician extenders
• Participating in resolution of interpersonal conflict and issues of clinical and ethical concern
• Ensures continuous hospice physician coverage 24-hour/7day per week for hospice patients and their families
• Completes, maintains and submits accurate and relevant clinical notes regarding patient’s condition and care given
• Maintains collaborative relationships with organization personnel to support patient care
• Assists the patient and family/caregiver and other team members in providing continuity of care
• Attends interdisciplinary group meetings

Additional Duties

• Participates in on-call duties as defined by the on-call policy
• Assumes responsibility for professional growth and development and maintains and upgrades professional knowledge and practice skills through attendance and participation in continuing medical education and inservice classes
• Fulfills the obligation of requested and/or accepted attending physician responsibilities
• Actively participates in quality assessment performance improvement teams and activities