Medical Director- Hospice- Houston

Description

KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES: Directs the medical aspects of The Care Teams patient care program. Serves as consultant and advisor to the Administrator, offering his/her expertise to assess and interpret medical problems. Serves as a consultant to the Interdisciplinary Group.

Additionally, the Medical Director will:

Oversees the implementation of the entire physician, nursing, social work, therapy, and counseling areas within Hospice to ensure that these areas consistently meet patient and family needs.

• Responsible for the palliation and management of terminal illness and conditions related to the terminal illness.
• Assumes overall responsibility for the medical component of the Hospice patient care program, functions as part of the Hospice IDG, and acts as a consultant for medical care.
• Oversees the implementation of the entire physician, nursing, social work, therapy, and counseling areas within The Care Team to ensure that these areas consistently meet patient and family needs.
• Responsibility for the medical component of The Care Teams patient care program.
• Participates in and acts as a medical resource to the IDG and Hospice leadership.
• Reviews the clinical information for each Hospice patient and provides written certification that it is anticipated that the patients life expectancy is 6 months or less if the illness runs its normal course. The physician must consider 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.
  • Information about the medical management of any of the patients conditions unrelated to the terminal illness.
• Before the recertification period for each patient, the Medical Director or physician designee must review the patients clinical information.
• Participates in the establishment and implementation of the plan of care, which is coordinated with the attending physician and IDG before providing care.
• Participates in conjunction with the attending physician and IDG to review, update, and sign the plan of care when changes are made and at least every fifteen days.
• Consults with attending physicians, if requested.
• Is available to patients on a 24-hour basis to manage their terminal illness and medical needs to the extent that the attending physician is absent or not able to meet these needs.
• Acts as a liaison with other physicians in the community serviced by Hospice and facilitates communication.
• Participates in educational programs for staff, when requested.
• Is a member of and participates in designated interdisciplinary group activities.
• Provides advice, guidance, and assistance to Hospice staff until a satisfactory resolution is reached when a medical order:
  • Is of a questionable nature.
  • Contains a discrepancy.
  • Lacks clarity.
  • Continues to be a concern for the staff after consultation with the primary physician.
• Provides medical consultation and direction when the attending physician or their designee cannot be reached and there is a change in the patients condition requiring medical attention.
• When the Medical Director is not available, a physician designated by The Care Team assumes the same responsibilities and obligations as the Medical Director.
• The clinical record shall contain notes for each service provided. A clinical note will be completed for each visit made to a patients home (including a private residence, assisted living facility, group homes, or skilled nursing facility) within 48 hours of the visit.

Qualifications

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Help optimize the capital structure and support strategic initiatives.
• Maintains the agencys mission, philosophy, and core values.
• Ensures compliance with agency policies and procedures regarding operations/processes, including but not limited to those regarding patient care, patient complaints, incidents, safety, and emergency management.
• Always maintains patient confidentiality, including all HIPAA regulations.

Regulatory Requirements

• Licensed or registered in the state in which the candidate is applying
• Relevant board certifications preferred.
• Must pass a criminal background check & MVR check.
• Completed health statements acknowledging the ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Valid state drivers license.
• Proof of current automobile insurance.
• Current CPR card; On-line CPR certification accepted; Hands-on CPR certification preferred.
• Proof of negative TB testing required upon hire; (annual TB symptom screening thereafter).

Industry experience

• Approved for admitting privileges and treatment of patients in the hospital of their locality of practice. Understanding of the principles of Hospice care. Willingness to work as a Hospice team member.

EDUCATION:

• Graduate from an accredited school of medicine and is a Doctor of Medicine or osteopathy.

Physical demands:

I understand the physical demands of the position, including vision, hearing, repetitive motion, and the environment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising patient care.

Nothing in this job description restricts managements right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to or from this job at any time. It is not designed to contain nor be interpreted as a comprehensive account of all the responsibilities or qualifications required of an employee assigned to this job. These job duties may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.