Hospice Medical Director

Position:
Hospice Medical Director

Brighton Hospice (Suncrest Hospice)

Overview

The hospice Medical Director will have overall responsibility for the medical component of the hospice program. The role includes oversight of physician services, acting as a medical resource to the interdisciplinary group, ensuring continuity of hospice medical services, and controlling patient symptoms. The Director serves as a hospice champion, representing the program to physicians, physician groups, discharge planners, referral sources, and community health organizations.

Benefits

• Actual Work/Life Balance
• Competitive Pay
• Benefits Package including Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Paid Time Off
• 401k plan with employer match and 100% vesting after 90 days of employment
• A culture that appreciates and values team members
• Opportunity to be part of a rapidly growing national company, with potential position upgrades

Responsibilities

• Devote best ability to the proper management of the program
• Provide overall medical direction to the program
• Ensure adherence to established policies, bylaws, rules, and regulations of Suncrest Hospice
• Meet requirements of Medicare Conditions of Participation and other accrediting bodies
• Establish and review policies and procedures related to patient care, medical education, and emergency procedures
• In cooperation with the CEO/Executive Director/Administrator and/or Chief Clinical Officer/Clinical Director, develop criteria to monitor quality of education programs for physicians, personnel, and volunteers
• Evaluate quality assessment performance improvement (QAPI) plans and identify medical education needs; participate in QAPI teams and activities as needed
• Propose organizational programs to address identified needs and work with leadership to determine impact on quality of care
• Serve as hospice champion in the community
• Act as liaison to community physicians by providing consultation and education on admission criteria for hospice and palliative care
• Act as medical liaison with other physicians at Suncrest Hospice
• Provide training on medical aspects of caring for terminally ill patients to physicians, personnel, and volunteers
• Review patients’ medical eligibility for hospice services and establish plan of care with attending physician and interdisciplinary group before providing care, including written certification of terminal illness
• Provide written certification of terminal illness for all subsequent benefit periods
• Perform face‑to‑face encounters within 30 days of the third and subsequent hospice benefit certification periods and attest to the encounter
• Consult with attending physicians regarding pain and symptom management for hospice patients
• Oversee patient medications and treatments
• Act as medical resource to the hospice interdisciplinary group
• Attend interdisciplinary group meetings and work in a team approach
• Review and update plan of care at least every 15 days, or more frequently as needed
• Document care in the patient’s clinical record, evidencing progression of the end‑stage disease process
• Act as primary physician for patients whose referring/attending physicians relinquish care or are unavailable
• Stay current on latest research and trends in hospice care and pain/symptom management
• Review and develop protocols for treatment and propose the most current options for interventions
• Develop and implement procedures and protocols regarding OSHA standards, including handling of hazardous medications
• Demonstrate communication and counseling skills with patients and family or caregivers about end‑of‑life issues
• Participate in resolving interpersonal conflict and ethical concerns of clinical care
• Ensure competent physician services are routinely available 24 hours a day to meet general medical needs of hospice patients unless covered by attending physician
• Assist with evaluation of protocols and procedures regarding quality and cost outcomes

Qualifications

• Licensed as a Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy in the state, without restriction or subject to any disciplinary or corrective action
• Maintains controlled substances registration with state and federal authorities
• Has experience in hospice or palliative care and/or training in end‑of‑life care
• Participates in ongoing medical education activities related to medical care of hospice and palliative care patients
• Not excluded from participating in the Medicare program

Seniority Level

• Director

Employment Type

• Part‑time

Job Function

• Health Care Provider

Industries

• Hospitals and Health Care