Emergency Medicine/ Aeromedical Services Medical Director

Medical Director Opportunity

The West Virginia University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine is seeking a medical director for its partner agency, HealthNet Aeromedical Services. The West Virginia University Health System represents 25 hospitals across West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland while HealthNet Aeromedical serves the entirety of Central Appalachia from nine air bases, and eight ground bases and three managed county 911 operations across West Virginia. This partnership moves over 5,400 patients per year by air and 42,000 patients per year by ground making it the largest prehospital provider in Appalachia.

West Virginia University Department of Emergency Medicine and HealthNet Aeromedical Services are seeking a Medical Director to serve HealthNet Aeromedical Services and serve as core academic faculty within the Department of Emergency Medicine, and the department's Division of Prehospital Medicine. The successful candidate will be a full-time academic faculty member with 60% of their effort assigned to HealthNet Medical Director duties and 40% of their time working clinically in the J. W. Ruby emergency department.

As Medical Director of HealthNet Aeromedical Services daily responsibilities will include oversight of air, ground and 911 response operations, educational and quality assurance programs, along with coordination of Associate Medical Directors. As core faculty the candidate will participate in the academic, service, and research missions of the department and the EMS division.

Practice medicine with the right people, for the right reasons.

Qualifications:

Candidates must have an MD, DO degree, or foreign equivalent and be eligible for state medical licenses in all states where HealthNet Aeromedical Services provides care. Successful candidates must have successfully completed an Emergency Medicine residency program, be ABMS board certified in Emergency Medicine, and furthermore have completed an accredited Emergency Medical Services fellowship and be subspecialty board certified/eligible in EMS.

Preferred Qualifications: Candidates with three or more years-experience in emergency medicine and prehospital experience and expertise in the immediate care and transport of the critically ill or injured patient are preferred. Demonstrated interest, knowledge, and ability in the leadership, financial, managerial, and marketing aspects of emergency medicine and prehospital medicine is also preferred. The candidate must meet credentialing requirements for the hospitals, payers, and other regulatory agencies. Demonstrates the ability to speak effectively on administrative and clinical matters related to emergency medicine and prehospital medicine. Possess the ability to appropriately focus on the audience, whether administrators, medical staff members, EMS providers, or the lay public.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to lift, push, pull and transfer boxes or equipment up to twenty-four pounds.
• Ability to twist upper body while moving boxes and/or equipment.
• Ability to stand, walk climb, balance, reach, stoop, bend, and crouch for extended periods of time.
• Ability to smell and identify odors.
• Ability to use close, distant, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and visual focus.
• Ability to lift, push, pull, and transfer patients of high weights with limited resources.
• Ability to twist upper body while moving patients and/or equipment.
• Ability to clearly hear and interpret voice, two-way radio, and telephone communication.

Position Specific Accountabilities:

• Maintains competency in critical care transport treatment modalities including but not limited to: altitude physiology and the stresses of flight; infection control in air and ground patient transportation; stress management techniques; air medical program safety; biomedical equipment appropriate to the transport environment; hazardous materials recognition and response; emergency medical services continuous improvement process; working knowledge of state legislation related to emergency medical services; regional mass causality and disaster plans; emergency medical services dispatch and communications; appropriate utilization of critical care transport services; air medical recourse management; sleep deprivation; circadian rhythm; fatigue management.
• Maintains authority over clinical practice and collaborates with clinical leaders, educators, and quality improvement staff, as appropriate.
• Collaborates with clinical leaders, educators, and continuous improvement staff as appropriate in determining the qualifications, selection, training, continuing education, and competency evaluations of clinical personnel.
• Supervises and evaluates the quality of patient care provided by clinical personnel.
• As appropriate, submits documentation to licensing and certifying boards.
• Ensures that clinical personnel meet requirements set forth by appropriate governmental entities.
• Ensures that rules and requirements set forth for Medical Directors as developed by the West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services are met and maintained.
• As appropriate and in keeping the program's mission, collaborate with clinical leaders, educators, and continuous improvement staff in the selection, retention, and use of medical equipment, expendable supplies and drugs.
• Participates int he development and revision of program medical guidelines and collaborates with the WVOEMS Medical Protocol and Curriculum Committee on changes to state medical guidelines.
• Annually, and as required, reviews and revises HealthNet Aeromedical Services clinically focused policies and procedures.
• Assists in resolving disputes regarding medical control and patient care related issues.
• Participates in continuous improvement projects.
• Supervises and directs the Associate Medical Director(s).
• At least twice yearly, participates in staff meetings and educational programs and/or unscheduled visits and/or ride alongs to each base.
• Participates in activities of the Air Medical Physician's Association.

The West Virginia University Health System is West Virginia's largest health system and the state's largest employer. The System has operated multiple Emergency Departments throughout WV and surrounding states. It has also undergone significant expansion in specialty and sub-specialty care in areas such as cancer, heart and vascular, and neurosciences, among many others. The Health System operates West Virginia's first and only multi-organ transplant center and opened a new 150-bed Children's Hospital in September 2022.

Build your legacy as you serve, teach, learn, and make a difference from day one.