Medical Director

Education Level: Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from an accredited medical school.

JOB SUMMARY

The Medical Director provides leadership, oversight, and clinical direction for the hospice and palliative care medical program under the general direction of the CEO. The Medical Director is responsible for guiding the plan of care and ensuring the highest level of medical treatment, symptom management, and patient comfort for hospice and palliative care patients and families. The HSK Medical Director is a physician member of the interdisciplinary team (IDT), a collaborative team of healthcare professionals—including physicians, nurses, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), chaplains, social workers, bereavement counselors, and volunteers—responsible for coordinating comprehensive, patient-centered hospice care. The Medical Director provides care and leadership that reflects HSK’s mission to be “United by being Radically Available to Honor life through Exceptional service and Compassionate care”. Through clinical excellence, collaborative leadership, and compassionate communication, the Medical Director ensures patients and families receive coordinated, respectful, and consistently high-quality hospice and palliative care that honors each individual’s goals, wishes, and unique journey. The Medical Director must be able to work effectively in high-stress and emotionally complex environments, demonstrate sound clinical judgment, and always maintain confidentiality. The ability to engage compassionately with patients and families while working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team is required. RESPONSIBILITIES (not limited to) Leadership & Oversight Provides clinical leadership and oversight of the hospice and palliative care medical program, ensuring high-quality, patient-centered care. Provides oversight and/or supervision of all Hospice Associate Medical Directors, nurse practitioners, and contracted physicians in coordination with the CEO, ensuring alignment with organizational standards and goals. Ensures provision of direct medical services to patients, either personally or through appropriate physician coverage when attending physicians are unavailable. Ensures daily physician rounds for General Inpatient (GIP) patients at the Hospice House and local hospitals are completed by themselves or another qualified physician to maintain continuity of care. Works collaboratively with hospice leadership and staff to achieve organizational goals while fostering a professional, respectful, and team-oriented environment. Attends all scheduled Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) meetings and collaborates with the hospice and palliative care team to develop, review, and oversee individualized plans of care. Collaborates with attending physicians and facility providers to develop, implement, and revise patient plans of care. Develops and maintains professional relationships with physicians, hospitals, long-term care facilities (LTCFs), and other healthcare partners to promote continuity of care and organizational growth. Supports organizational growth through relationship development within the medical community and promotion of hospice and palliative care services. Educates physicians and other healthcare professionals regarding hospice and palliative care services, admission criteria, and patient eligibility. Clinical Acumen & Guidance Serves as the primary medical resource for hospice staff, patients, families, attending physicians, and community providers regarding pain and symptom management. Maintains availability to staff for timely clinical consultation and decision-making, either in person or by telephone. Conducts home visits, face-to-face encounters, Hospice House rounds, hospital visits, and long-term care facility visits as clinically indicated. Provides pre-election evaluations and counseling services for prospective hospice patients and families as requested. Provides counseling and education to patients and families regarding disease progression, goals of care, and end-of-life decision-making. Reviews medications upon admission and ensures prescribing practices align with the patient's plan of care and formulary guidelines. Provides oversight of pharmacy utilization, IV therapy, and treatment-related costs to support responsible clinical resource management. Compliance & Continuous Quality Improvement Ensures physician and nurse practitioner documentation, billing, coding, and clinical records meet regulatory, organizational, and professional standards. Maintains accurate, timely documentation that supports patient care, regulatory compliance, and appropriate reimbursement. Obtains and maintains required medical staff privileges at hospitals and long-term care facilities as necessary to provide hospice and palliative care services. Participates in the organization's Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program and supports continuous quality improvement initiatives. Performs all duties in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, accreditation standards, accepted standards of medical practice, and Hospice of Southern Kentucky policies and procedures. Education & Training Provides ongoing clinical education and training for hospice staff to promote evidence-based practice and high-quality patient care. Responds promptly to requests for physician signatures, orders, certifications, and other clinical documentation necessary to support patient care and regulatory compliance.

REQUIREMENTS

Licensure: A current, unrestricted Kentucky medical license, along with valid DEA and NPI registrations. Board: Board certified in primary care or related specialty. Board certification in Hospice and Palliative Medicine preferred.

RELATIONSHIPS

The Medical Director serves as the clinical leader of the hospice interdisciplinary team, working under the direction of the CEO and in close collaboration with the Chief Nursing Officer. This role requires strong internal relationships built on mutual trust, respect, and a shared commitment to patient-centered care. The Medical Director also develops and maintains external professional relationships with community physicians, hospitals, LTCF’s, and healthcare partners. These United relationships support hospice and palliative care awareness, improve continuity of care, and expand access to hospice and palliative care services within the community.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

This position requires the ability to sit for extended periods, travel to patient locations including homes, hospitals, hospice facilities, and nursing homes, and respond to clinical needs in a variety of settings. The role may involve exposure to emotionally stressful situations and communicable diseases. The Medical Director must be able to communicate effectively in person and by phone, navigate clinical environments not designed for accessibility, and occasionally lift or assist with patient-related clinical needs in coordination with care teams. Flexibility for on-call responsibilities, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, is required. #J-18808-Ljbffr Hospice of Southern Kentucky