Medical Director Hospice

This job was posted by https://www.vermontjoblink.com : For more information, please see: https://www.vermontjoblink.com/jobs/1412196 Job Summary: The Hospice Medical Director provides medical leadership for the hospice program and serves as a clinical resource to the interdisciplinary team. The Medical Director collaborates with attending physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other team members to ensure high-quality, compassionate care that meets the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of hospice patients and their families. The Medical Director will provide direct patient care through hospice face-to-face recertification encounters and symptom management consultations/visits as needed, helping ensure timely access to expert end-of-life care throughout our service area. The role may be structured as a contracted position, part-time employment, or other flexible arrangement depending on the qualifications and availability of the selected candidate. Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities: Medical Oversight: - Provide overall medical direction for the hospice program. - Review and certify hospice eligibility in accordance with Medicare regulations. - Complete hospice recertifications and physician documentation requirements. - Conduct hospice face-to-face encounters for patients entering their third benefit period and subsequent benefit periods, as required by Medicare regulations, or supervise the process when completed by a hospice nurse practitioner. - Perform in-home, facility-based, or telehealth symptom management visits, as clinically appropriate, to evaluate complex patient needs and provide recommendations for pain and symptom control. - Provide consultation regarding pain and symptom management. - Serve as a clinical resource to hospice staff and interdisciplinary team members. - Participate in development and review of individualized plans of care. - Collaborate with attending physicians and other community providers. - Serve as attending physician for hospice patients when appropriate. - Ensure medical hospice services comply with Medicare Conditions of Participation, state regulations, and accreditation standards. - Participate in establishing and maintaining hospice clinical policies and standards. Hospice Eligibility and Certification: - Review and certify terminal illness and hospice admissions when required. - Provide written recertification of terminal illness for subsequent benefit periods. - Review documentation supporting hospice eligibility. - Participate in physician review of clinical appropriateness and prognosis. Interdisciplinary Group (IDG): - Serve as a medical resource to the interdisciplinary team. - Participate in IDG meetings as required by regulation, either directly or through delegated processes when appropriate. - Collaborate in development and review of patient plans of care. - Assist with clinical decision-making and complex symptom management. - Support staff education and clinical excellence. - Promote evidence-based hospice and palliative care practices. Quality and Compliance - Support compliance with Medicare Conditions of Participation and applicable state regulations. - Participate in Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) activities. - Assist with review of hospice outcomes, quality measures, and clinical performance improvement initiatives. - Support regulatory surveys and compliance efforts. Symptoms and Medication Management: - Provide consultation regarding pain and symptom management. - Support development of evidence-based approaches to end-of-life care. - Be available for physician consultation regarding hospice patients. Availability: - Ensure physician services are available 2 /7 to meet patient needs, either personally or through an organized coverage arrangement. - Serve as attending physician for hospice patients who do not have an attending physician willing or able to continue care. Community Outreach: - Serve as a hospice ambassador within the medical community. - Built relationships with referring providers, hospitals, nursing facilities, and community partners. - Promote awareness of hospice and palliative care services. Education: - Promote educational presentations to physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, volunteers, skilled nursing facilities, and community organizations. - Mentor hospice clinicians on complex cases. Program Development: - Advice leadership on emerging hospice and palliative care best practices. - Assist with strategic planning and service development. - Recommend enhancements to clinical protocols and care pathways. Leadership: Participate in recruitment and retention effort