General Purpose

The Medical Director directs and oversees the medical components of the Hospice patient care program. The position serves as a clinical consultant and advisor to Hospice leadership and the Interdisciplinary Group (IDG), ensuring high-quality, compliant, and patient-centered end-of-life care.

The Medical Director collaborates with each patient's attending physician but does not assume primary medical direction of the patient's care. The role ensures that hospice services align with regulatory requirements and hospice philosophy while meeting patient and family needs.

Essential Duties

Clinical Oversight & Leadership

• Assumes overall responsibility for the medical component of the Hospice patient care program.
• Oversees physician, nursing, social work, therapy, and counseling services to ensure patient and family needs are met.
• Participates as an active member of the Hospice Interdisciplinary Group (IDG).
• Acts as a medical consultant and resource to Hospice leadership and staff.

Certification & Recertification Responsibilities

• Reviews clinical information for each Hospice patient.
• Provides written certification that the patient's life expectancy is six (6) months or less if the illness runs its normal course.
• Considers:
  • Primary terminal condition
  • Related diagnoses
  • Subjective and objective findings
  • Current medications and treatments
  • Management of unrelated conditions
• Reviews clinical information prior to each recertification period and provides appropriate documentation.

Plan of Care Management

• Participates in the establishment of the patient's plan of care in coordination with the attending physician and IDG prior to service delivery.
• Reviews, updates, and signs the plan of care with the attending physician and IDG:
  • When changes occur
  • At least every fifteen (15) days

Consultation & Availability

• Serves as consultant to attending physicians upon request.
• Provides medical direction when the attending physician is unavailable.
• Available on a 24-hour basis to address terminal illness needs when necessary.
• Provides medical consultation and guidance for:
  • Questionable medical orders
  • Discrepancies
  • Unclear directives
  • Ongoing staff concerns

Communication & Community Liaison

• Acts as liaison with community physicians and healthcare providers.
• Facilitates effective communication between Hospice and attending physicians.
• Participates in staff education when requested.
• Engages in designated IDG activities and meetings.

Coverage

• When unavailable, ensures a designated physician assumes the same responsibilities and obligations.

Education

• Graduate of an accredited school of medicine.
• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO).

Licensure

• Current, unrestricted license to practice medicine issued by the State Board of Medicine.

Experience

• Demonstrated expertise in:
  • Internal medicine and/or oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Pain and symptom management
  • End-of-life care principles
  • Psychology of loss and grief

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Approved for admitting privileges and treatment of patients in the locality of practice.
• Strong understanding of hospice philosophy and palliative care principles.
• Ability to work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary team.
• Strong clinical judgment and decision-making ability.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
• Emotional stability and ability to manage end-of-life care complexities.

Transportation

• Valid driver's license.
• Reliable transportation.
• Current auto liability insurance.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to see and hear or use adaptive devices necessary to perform essential job functions.

Mental Requirements

• Ability to work independently and exercise sound clinical judgment.
• Ability to analyze assessments and available data and act accordingly.
• Ability to cope with emotional and mental stress inherent in hospice care.
• Flexibility, innovation, and strong interpersonal skills required.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status.