Hospice Medical Director

Job Description Summary

The hospice Medical Director will have overall responsibility for the medical component of the hospice program.

The hospice Medical Director will have overall responsibility for the medical component of the hospice program. The hospice Medical Director will provide oversight of physician services by acting as a medical resource to the interdisciplinary group, assuring continuity of hospice medical services, assuring appropriate measures to control patient symptoms, and complementing attending physician care. 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 Job Functions/Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of the Medical Director will include, but not be limited to, the following: Administrative

• Providing overall medical direction to the program
• Assuring that the established policies, bylaws, rules, and regulations of the organization are followed while
• 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
• Assisting with evaluation of protocols and procedures with respect to quality and cost outcomes

Community Liaison/Education

• 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.
• Educating practicing physicians and others engaged in healthcare services regarding the hospice program and its potential benefits to patients.

Patient Care

• 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. Considering at least the following when making this determination:
• The primary terminal condition,
• Related diagnosis(es), if any,
• Current subjective and objective medical findings,
• Current medication and treatment orders, and
• Information about the medical management of any of the patient’s conditions unrelated to the terminal illness.
• Establishing the plan of care in conjunctions with attending physician and interdisciplinary group prior to providing care written certification of terminal illness
• Reviewing the clinical record and/or performing a medical examination to confirm the appropriateness of hospice services
• Reviewing necessary data from the referral source in order to validate the diagnosis and life-limiting prognosis established by the attending physician
• Performing face-to-face encounters within thirty (30) days of the third and subsequent hospice benefit certification periods and attest 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.
• Assisting 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

Supervision

• 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.

Communication

• 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
• Additional duties as delegated

The above statements are only meant to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job related tasks other than those stated in this description.

Position Qualifications

• Licensed as a Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy in the state without restriction or subject to any disciplinary or corrective action.
• Maintains DEA registration and any or all controlled substance authorizations with state and federal authorities.
• Has experience in hospice or palliative care and/or training in end of life care. Board Certified in Hospice and Palliative Care preferred.
• Participates in ongoing medical education activities related to the medical care of hospice and palliative care patients.
• Not excluded from participating in Medicare/Medicaid or any federally funded program
• Minimum of one (1) year experience in health care, hospice experience preferred. Understands hospice philosophy, issues of death/dying, pain management and the LCD guidelines.
• Demonstrates good verbal and written communication, and organization skills.
• Must be a licensed driver with an automobile that is insured in accordance with state/or organization requirements and is in good working order.
• Knowledge of business management, governmental regulations and CHAP standards is preferred.