Medical Director/ Medical Director Designee

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Medical Director/ Medical Director Designee

 
Schedule : 24/7

 
Organization:
Heart of Hope Asian American Hospice Care is a non-profit Hospice licensed by the state of California in 2016 and accredited by CHAP with zero deficiencies in 2017 and 2023. We are looking for an exceptional Medical Director/ Medical Director Designee to join our leadership team. A contracted Medical Director/ Medical Director Designee is needed to operate this hospice organization in San Jose, California. This is a unique opportunity to share your passion for end-of-life care with a non-profit hospice organization to promote and to deliver compassionate care to patients and families facing end-of-life challenges in the Silicon Valley Area. This position provides a great opportunity for enhancing cultural competence and professional growth.

 
Pay Rate and Benefits
Highly competitive pay rate based on relevant work experience and qualifications, upon negotiation

 
Duties:
The contracted Medical Director or Medical Director Designee is responsible for the overall clinical and medical direction of hospice services and reports to the CEO/Administrator. The physician assists the CEO/Administrator in establishing, implementing, and evaluating goals and objectives for hospice services that meet and promote quality-of-care standards and contribute to the overall organizational philosophy. The candidate should have advanced experience with hospice and palliative care and a thorough understanding of the Medicare Conditions of Participation for hospice, the accreditation process, and other details of running an efficient, patient-centered hospice operation. The Medical Director (Designee) provides clinical oversight, guides physician practices related to hospice eligibility and care planning, and serves as a key resource for the interdisciplinary team.

A. Director Services

Specifically, the Medical Director/ Medical Director Designee will:

1. Provide clinical supervision and perform administrative duties as necessary to assure the successful clinical operation of the agency and to monitor the quality of care provided to patients.
2. Work to ensure the agency is and remains compliant with all applicable laws, regulations, rules, and standards governing medical care for hospice patients, including CDPH licensing requirements and CMS Conditions of Participation.
3. Serve as a member of the interdisciplinary team (IDT) and provide medical leadership to the IDT and agency staff.
4. Participate in interdisciplinary team conferences and contribute to collaborative care planning and clinical decision-making.
5. Participate as needed in the admission process, including issuing physician orders necessary for the development of each patient's hospice plan of care.
6. Confirm patient eligibility for hospice services and prepare written certification statements for patients who do not have an attending physician, in accordance with hospice program policies.
7. Review statements of prognosis and eligibility certifications prepared by attending physicians or the IDT to ensure appropriate admission and recertification for hospice services.
8. Consult with patients' attending physicians and hospice staff as requested to support continuity and quality of care.
9. Assist in developing an individualized plan of care for each patient and family, including assessment of the patient's needs, identification of services to be provided, and management of discomfort and symptom relief.
10. Coordinate efforts with attending physicians to ensure hospice patients receive medical care when the attending physician is unable or unavailable to provide such care.
11. Work with the agency to provide and/or arrange for 24-hour on-call physician availability to deliver Medical Director services as needed.
12. Offer advice and information to agency staff and referring physicians on medical interventions consistent with hospice philosophy and each patient's plan of care.
13. Participate in the approval of patient admissions to hospitals and skilled nursing facilities for respite care, general inpatient care, or residential care, and ensure appropriate care is provided in those settings.
14. Participate in patient conferences and provide input and guidance on the medical management of patients' plans of care.
15. Consult with physicians, skilled nursing facilities, and hospitals regarding potential hospice patients and existing patients' plans of care, as requested.
16. Serve as a physician liaison and provide education regarding the hospice concept and philosophy to the broader medical community, including physicians, nursing facilities, and hospitals.
17. Maintain all records and reports required under federal and state law and/or regulations, and make such records available for review by the agency and any applicable federal or state agency upon request.

B. Physician Services

In addition to Medical Director/ Medical Director Designee responsibilities, this position will provide direct physician services to hospice patients, including:

1. Inpatient Care: Provide care for inpatients who are not being routinely seen by their primary physicians, as assigned. Responsibilities include history and physicals, routine visits, discharge medications, and ongoing communication with the primary physician.
2. Home Care: Provide necessary consultation to home care patients as assigned, including but not limited to house calls, pain control, consultation and prescriptions, attendance at patient care conferences, and utilization review of out-of-protocol procedures and acute care admissions.
3. Orders: Provide required physician orders for patients after appropriate evaluation in accordance with state regulations, or assist the agency in identifying a qualified physician to do so.

Qualifications/Requirements:
In accordance with CDPH Emergency Regulations DPH-18-002E (effective June 22, 2026), this position requires:

1. Current and unrestricted California Physician and Surgeon license in good standing, with no disciplinary actions against the license within the past seven (7) years.
2. A minimum of two (2) years of full-time supervisory or managerial experience within the last five (5) years in a hospice, home health agency, or providing palliative care.
3. Board certification in Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) preferred; candidates with equivalent clinical experience in end-of-life care are encouraged to apply.
4. Demonstrated ability to supervise and provide clinical direction to interdisciplinary professional teams.
5. Deep knowledge of hospice eligibility criteria, Medicare Conditions of Participation, and CMS billing and documentation requirements.
6. Familiarity with CDPH licensing requirements, CHAP or equivalent accreditation standards, and California Health and Safety Code provisions governing hospice agencies.
7. Ability to engage tactfully and compassionately with patients, families, staff, and the broader medical community — with cultural humility and sensitivity to the Asian American communities we serve.
8. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with strong clinical documentation practices.
9. Must be a California licensed driver with an automobile insured in accordance with state and/or organization requirements.
10. This position is limited to oversight of one (1) hospice agency per CDPH regulations, except in qualifying rural areas.