System Medical Director of Employee Health

About the role

The West Virginia University Health System, the state’s largest health system and largest private employer, comprises 18 hospitals throughout the state and bordering states. In addition, it includes five institutes, as well as providing management services for other local hospitals through affiliate agreements. Whether you are caring for our patients at one of the critical access hospitals, community sites, regional or academic medical centers, we are all one WVU Health System. Work Here. Thrive Here.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Medical Director of Employee Health provides system-level clinical leadership and oversight for employee health services across WVU Health System. This physician leader is responsible for advancing a comprehensive, evidence-based employee health program that promotes the health, safety, and well-being of the Health System's workforce while supporting regulatory compliance, infection prevention, occupational health, workforce readiness, and organizational resilience. The Medical Director partners with Human Resources, Infection Prevention and Control, Employee Relations, Occupational Health, Risk Management, Quality and Patient Safety, Medical Staff leadership, and operational leaders across WVU Health System to establish consistent employee health standards, policies, clinical practices, and performance expectations. This role will provide strategic direction for employee health services across hospitals, ambulatory locations, physician practices, post-acute services, and other WVU Health System entities. The Medical Director will serve as a subject matter expert and physician resource for issues involving occupational medicine, communicable diseases, employee exposures, workplace health and safety, vaccination programs, employee medical clearance, and other workforce health matters. The Medical Director will also help shape the future of employee health as a strategic component of workforce retention, employee engagement, safety, and organizational performance. The position is expected to require 80% administrative effort with the remaining 20% effort devoted to clinical practice.

Responsibilities

• System Employee Health Leadership: Provide physician leadership and clinical oversight for the WVU Health System employee health program.Develop and maintain a systemwide vision, strategy, and operating framework for employee health services.Establish consistent clinical standards, protocols, policies, and evidence-based practices across the Health System while allowing for appropriate local operational differences.Partner with executive and operational leadership to identify emerging employee health needs and develop proactive strategies.Serve as a system-level physician advisor and subject matter expert regarding workforce health and occupational medicine.Evaluate the effectiveness, accessibility, quality, and efficiency of employee health services across the enterprise.
• Occupational and Employee Health: Provide clinical guidance related to employee medical evaluations, work-related injuries and illnesses, occupational exposures, communicable diseases, and return-to-work determinations.Provide oversight and guidance for employee health screening and medical surveillance programs based on regulatory, occupational, and clinical requirements.Establish appropriate protocols for pre-placement and post-offer health assessments, immunization requirements, respiratory protection, tuberculosis screening, bloodborne pathogen exposures, and other occupational health requirements.Develop and maintain evidence-based protocols for the management of employee exposures to infectious diseases, hazardous materials, blood and body fluids, and other workplace risks.Provide physician consultation for complex employee health cases and fitness-for-duty concerns.Collaborate with appropriate leaders regarding reasonable restrictions, work accommodations, and safe return-to-work processes while maintaining appropriate confidentiality and regulatory compliance.
• Infection Prevention and Workforce Safety: Partner closely with Infection Prevention and Control to develop and implement strategies that protect employees and patients from communicable diseases and occupational exposures.Provide physician leadership during outbreaks, emerging infectious disease events, and other workforce health emergencies.Provide guidance regarding employee vaccination programs and immunization requirements.Participate in system preparedness and response planning for pandemics, emerging infectious diseases, and other public health events.Collaborate with Workplace Safety, Risk Management, and other stakeholders to identify and mitigate occupational health risks.
• Clinical Governance and Standardization: Establish clinical governance structures and accountability for employee health services throughout WVU Health System.Develop systemwide clinical guidelines and protocols based on current evidence, regulatory requirements