Medical Director of Respite Programs

Who We Are

Since 1985, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP) has worked to ensure equitable and dignified access to the highest quality health care for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in the greater Boston area. Each year, BHCHP cares for more than 10,000 homeless individuals, providing comprehensive services ranging from preventative dental care to cancer treatment. Clinicians, case managers, and behavioral health professionals serve some of our community’s most vulnerable—and resilient—citizens across more than 30 locations.

Our mission centers on human dignity, compassion, mutual respect, and systemic barriers such as racism. We provide culturally appropriate community‑based health care that incorporates social determinants of health, aiming to break down physical and systemic obstacles for our patients.

Job Summary

Medical Director of Respite Programs – Full‑time, 40 hours per week.

Union: None
Patient Facing: Yes

BHCHP’s Medical Respite program at the Barbara McInnis House (BMH) offers short‑term medical and recuperative care for homeless individuals who are medically complex and too ill to be discharged to a shelter or street. With 103 beds and an average stay of 14 days, BMH provides critical opportunities for innovative programming and infectious disease isolation.

Responsibilities

Clinical Care and Management

• Lead and support the medical staff, providing guidance, patient care, and critical evaluation while overseeing care for an assigned clinical team.
• Supervise, mentor, and collaborate with nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
• Hire and supervise the Associate Medical Director of Respite Programs, sharing on‑call and clinical leadership responsibilities.
• Ensure care teams are appropriately staffed, equipped, and organized to deliver high‑quality care.
• Review, revise, and develop clinical care policies and procedures.
• Partner with the Associate Medical Director to hire and evaluate NP/PA clinicians for Medical Respite.
• Provide direct patient care at other BHCHP sites as needed, under the BHCHP Physician job description.
• Maintain life support training certification ( CPR, BLS, ACLS) with hands‑on components.
• Support up to four weeks per year of inpatient care at local hospitals.

Administrative Leadership

• Collaborate closely with the Associate Medical Director of Medical Respite, Director of Nursing, and Executive Director to set vision, manage resources, and steward the program’s 250 staff, including over 100 nurses.
• Promote communication between Medical Respite and other BHCHP departments.
• Serve as co‑chair of the Clinical Care Committee and the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee.
• Participate in BHCHP‑wide committees such as the Senior Management Team, Management Team, Emergency Preparedness and Safety Task Force, and the Quality and Efficiency Committee.
• Engage in external forums and work groups at the request of the BHCHP Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements related to clinical care.
• Prioritize equity in the work environment and attend relevant equity & inclusion trainings; participation in BHCHP’s Equity and Social Justice Committee is strongly encouraged.
• Meaningfully engage Medical Respite patients in program improvement efforts.
• Develop and strengthen partnerships with stakeholders at local, state, and national levels, including hospitals, shelters, academic institutions, respite networks, treatment programs, harm reduction programs, and public agencies.
• Share 24‑hour on‑call administrative duties with the Associate Medical Director of Medical Respite.
• Perform other duties as requested by the BHCHP Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer.

Teaching, Research, and Quality Improvement

• Advance clinical knowledge of Medical Respite staff and trainees through educational opportunities, mentoring, and seminars.
• Host regular educational seminars on topics relevant to Medical Respite clinical care, including case conferences and Morbidity & Mortality Reviews.
• Champion quality improvement initiatives, leading ongoing evaluation of processes and QI projects.
• Monitor key performance metrics such as hospital readmission rate, length of stay, and focus on health equity.

Qualifications

• MD with primary care specialty (Internal Medicine or Family Medicine).
• At least 3 years of clinical experience caring for underserved populations.
• DEA X‑waiver required.
• Familiarity with hospital medicine, addiction medicine, and/or Health Care for the Homeless programs is desired.
• Prior managerial/administrative experience is preferred.
• Strong understanding of complex health problems of homeless people, substance use disorder, harm reduction strategies, and social determinants of health, and awareness of racism and xenophobia in health care.
• Demonstrated interest in working with underserved populations, including those with co‑morbid psychiatric illnesses and substance use disorders.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salaries range from $172,000 to $275,200 annually, pro‑rated for part‑time hours.
• Full‑time employees are eligible for time off, health, dental, and vision insurance, a 403B retirement savings plan, pre‑tax MBTA pass with a 40% discount, and additional compensation for bilingual proficiency. Benefits are prorated for part‑time employees.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

Covid‑19 Vaccination

Proof of Covid‑19 vaccination(s) is optional. Candidates who are offered employment will receive details on how to demonstrate vaccination if they choose to.

Employment Status

Please note: Employment is at‑will. Boston Health Care for the Homeless does not sponsor work authorization visas.

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