Hybrid Medical Director at HomeCare & Hospice

MEDICAL DIRECTOR - Per Diem annual salary 15,000 - 20,000

                                                                                                                                  EXPOSURE CATEGORY I 

BASIC PURPOSE & SCOPE:

              Reporting to the Chief Nursing Officer, is responsible for, but not limited to, oversight of the medical component of Hospice inclusive of supervision of the IDT physician as well as patient care, consultation with primary care physicians and interdisciplinary team members, consultation in the development of applicable policy and procedures, liaison activities in relation to the medical and lay communities to promote hospice care, and participation as an interdisciplinary team member regarding medical consultation on home care patients designated for team review.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Participates in initial assessments of patients and verification of appropriateness of hospice care. 

2. Verifies/certifies the six-month terminal prognosis in conjunction with the attending physician and recertifies limited life expectancy at subsequent periods for hospice care eligibility as may be necessary with face-to-face visits.

3. Establishes expected/desired role of medical director in relation to the primary care physician for each hospice patient, inclusive of the relinquishment of the medical director responsibilities to the IDT physician for all patients who present for admission to hospice from his or her own private practice.

4. Participates in developing and revising written patient care objectives and procedures.
5. Consults with attending physicians as necessary regarding pain and symptom management and is responsible for meeting the medical needs of patients if the attending physician in unavailable or unresponsive.

      6.  Serves as an active member of the interdisciplinary team.

      7.  As supervisor of IDT physicians, resolves conflicting patient care decisions     when needed.

      8.  Serves on-call, as may be necessary to the hospice program.

9. Assists in the establishment of health policies for employees as requested.
10. Monitors the effectiveness of policies and procedures in the care of terminally ill patients and their families via active participation in Interdisciplinary team weekly, recommending changes in policy or procedure as deemed appropriate to the QI Manager or Chief Nursing Officer for inclusion in the appropriate QI forum.
11. Acts to assure continuity of care should withdrawal from program occur.
12. Assumes responsibility for educational/promotional activities involving physicians, hospice staff, and the community.

13. Adheres to and reflects organizational values in daily work.
14. Serves on agency committees as may be assigned.
15. Maintains an obligation to report wrongdoing/violation of agency policies, applicable federal, state, and local laws, and rules and regulations pertaining to agency operations, to immediate supervisor or identified compliance officer.

16. Completes all mandatory inservice education programs and completes any other additional inservice hours that are minimally required for the position. 

The above examples of work may not be a complete statement of all assignments that may be inherent to the position.  Other duties may be assigned as deemed necessary and/or appropriate by the Administrator/CEO.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

1. Medical doctor licensed to practice in New York State. 
2. At hospitals contracting with HomeCare & Hospice in his/her geographic areas of responsibility, maintains admitting privileges or agreements with hospitalists to facilitate inpatient, respite, or routine days of care (may be waived if other IDT Physician serving geographic area has requisite admitting privileges or agreements with hospitalists).
3. Skilled in pain and symptom control/management.
4. Able and willing to work as part of the interdisciplinary team, attending interdisciplinary team meetings weekly, or as necessary.

5. Advocacy of hospice concept evidenced in current practice of medicine.
6. Acceptable driver’s license and automobile available for use with current insurance.
7. Availability by telephone.
8. Computer literacy.