Associate Medical Director

• Job Schedule:
  
  Full time
• Job Shift: Day

The medical director of VITAS fulfills two primary functions, each of which is expected to consume approximately one half of the time and work effort of the position:

• Medical Direction and Care Oversight
  Overall responsibility for medical direction of the care and treatment of patients and their families rendered by the hospice care team, and consultation and cooperation with the patient's attending physician. Provides physician direction and guidance to the hospice program, its physician employees, and other staff and volunteers to assure the maintenance of quality standards of care for patients and families.
• Education of Healthcare Professionals
  Educate practicing physicians and other health‑care providers about the hospice program and its potential benefits to patients.

• Quality of Clinical Care
  • Assure appropriate evaluation and certification of terminal prognosis of patients.
  • Assure the quality of initial and comprehensive plans of care.
  • Assure the accuracy of documentation.
  • Review revocations and recertifications of terminal prognosis.
  • Review the quality of pain and symptom management.
  • Provide medical expertise on pain and symptom management and on the evaluation of terminal prognosis to admission and patient‑care staff.
  • Actively participate in formal QI functions and committees, the Interdisciplinary Group, and the Ethics Committee.
  • Interact with attending physicians regarding pain, symptom management, and prognosis issues.
  • Periodically attend home‑care team meetings and rounds in inpatient units.
• Supervision of Team Physicians (Home Care and Inpatient)
  • Interview and participate in the hiring and contracting of team physicians with the general manager, patient‑care administrator, and/or team manager.
  • Orient team physicians to clinical responsibilities and the principles of palliative medicine.
  • Periodically review the quality of clinical care and the quality of documentation of visits made by the team physician.
  • Assure that documentation of visits supports the CPT coded level of service billed.
  • Ensure proper participation and support of team physicians in meetings and in support of VITAS nurses, team managers, and other clinical team members.
  • Participate with the team manager in the yearly formal evaluation of the team physician.
  • Ensure that a physician on‑call rotation is established to provide 24‑hour, 7‑day support.
• Management
  • Participate as an active member of the local/regional management team (budget process, strategic planning, etc.).
  • Actively participate in responding to audits and denials from third‑party insurance and intermediaries (e.g., Medicare).
  • Ensure that all contracted physicians are properly credentialed via the VITAS Credentialing process.
  • Serve on the VITAS Credentialing Committee.
  • In Wisconsin, supervise the consultant pharmacist in medication utilization and the disposal of controlled drugs.
• Community Relations
  • Educate community physicians on palliative‑medicine principles.
  • Provide resource and consultative support to community physicians.
  • Attend and present at medical‑staff and other medical‑community conferences on palliative medicine.
  • Serve as liaison between the hospice and community physicians.
  • Make regular contacts with practicing physicians to introduce the hospice program and to answer clinical concerns.
  • Assist in introducing the VITAS program to long‑term‑care providers, managed‑care providers, hospitals, and others.
  • Conduct educational seminars and presentations to physicians, nurses, and other health‑care audiences to increase hospice accessibility.
• Education and Research
  • Assist in the development of and participate in clinical training for hospice patient‑care and admissions personnel.
  • Participate in medical and nursing education programs on palliative medicine at VITAS and partner colleges.
  • Assist in the development of and participate in research protocols on local and corporate levels.
  • Be a member of and participate in professional organizations related to palliative medicine.

• Knowledge of the principles and practice of primary medical care, with at least a working knowledge of oncology.
• Knowledge of…