Medical Director of Palliative Care and Hospice Services

Company: Clayton State University
Location: Augusta
Posted on: February 25, 2021

Job Description:

Press Control+M to start dragging object Medical Director of Palliative Care and Hospice Services The Medical Director of Palliative Care and Hospice Services is a medical staff leader who establishes, together with the medical staff and health system administration, the type and scope of Palliative Care and Hospice Services required to meet the needs of patients and the health system; develops and implements policies and procedures that guide and support the provision of Palliative Care and Hospice Services; recommends to the medical staff the criteria for clinical competencies and privileges for each Palliative Care and Hospice Services member; conducts continuous surveillance of the professional performance of all individuals with clinical privileges and scopes of practice on the service; and assesses and improves the quality of care and services provided by the service. Medical Directors shall work cooperatively with the other Officers of the Medical Staff and the Executive Vice President for Health Affairs/CEO, Vice President/Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nursing Officer, ACMO Utilization and Throughput, or their assigned administrative counterparts. DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: The Medical Director will carry out the duties and responsibilities in accordance with the AU Medical Center Medical Staff Bylaws. Responsibilities may include both clinical and administrative duties.

• Ensure compliance with AU Medical Center's Mission, values, medical staff bylaws and all related policies, procedures and protocols.
• Provides support for medical staff governance which includes the direct involvement in and oversight responsibility for compliance issues (i.e. EMTALA, HIPPA), physician services, medical staff applications, credentialing, reappointments and new physician orientation
• Assists in the identification, development, and implementation of the clinical information infrastructure that will support sound clinical decision-making
• Participates in the assessment of new technology for the department
• Participates in the strategic planning process for the development of proposed priorities for departmental programs and services
• Participates in department's operating and capital budgeting process
• Assists AU Medical Center in meeting accreditation and licensure requirements by actively promoting and achieving practice standards that meet Joint Commission standards, standards set forth by federal programs, and state licensure requirements
• Assists in the development and provision of continuing professional education programs for the medical staff, support staff, graduate, and post-graduate medical education and acts as a liaison with residency and clerkship directors in matters concerning resident and medical student rotations
• Represents the hospital on assigned internal and external committees, task forces, commissions, agencies and promotional or public relations efforts regarding clinical/medical affairs; assists with the coordination of any regulatory certifications, licensure, or other designations as appropriate to the functional areas for which the position has responsibility
• In collaboration with the medical staff leadership, assures that appropriate quality improvement systems are in place to fulfill the operational and strategic goals of AU Medical Center
• Actively promotes and participates in ongoing performance improvement efforts of AU Medical Center
• Coordinates with Quality and Utilization Management to assure the proper analysis of clinical and financial data for identifying trends and reporting ongoing results
• Ensures that clinical protocols, policies, and procedures are effective, efficient, evidence-based when evidence is available, and consistent with internal and external quality and patient safety standards
• Supports AU Medical Center's strategies in the area of quality, patient safety, patient satisfaction, and Patient-and-Family-Centered Care
• Makes recommendations regarding space, equipment, and other resources needed by the clinical service
• Ensures that research being conducted within the clinical service is in accordance with Augusta University and AU Medical Center Policies
• Fulfills other duties as delineated by the Medical Staff Bylaws PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS The Medical Director's performance based on duties and the Vice President/Chief Medical Officer AU Medical Center evaluates responsibilities annually. Other duties specific to this role are as follows:
  • Develop the administrative structure necessary for a comprehensive Palliative Care program which will encompass inpatient hospice, inpatient and outpatient Palliative Care Consult services, and Transition Planning for adult and pediatric Palliative Care patients
  • Formalize the Inpatient Palliative Care Consult Service (Pediatric and Adult) including the development of key clinical indications for consultation, tracking of consult and patient outcomes, quality and performance monitoring and the development of and monitoring of improvement initiatives
  • Develop partnerships (both within and outside the institution) to provide the Social Work, Chaplain and Volunteer support that is essential to a successful Palliative Care program
  • Provide direct Palliative Care Consultative services to adult and pediatric patients
  • Hire, train and supervise Advanced Practice Provider(s) who will provide Palliative Care Consultative services in conjunction with the Medical Director
  • Administer and lead regularly scheduled Interdisciplinary Team meetings (weekly for Inpatient Palliative Care and monthly for Outpatient Palliative Care) to ensure Palliative Care patients are afforded the highest quality assessment and treatment of symptoms - physical, psychosocial, and spiritual
  • Liason with Hospice Medical Directors and/or serves as the Hospice Medical Director for contracted hospice companies providing General Inpatient Hospice (GIP) services at AUMC and CHOG to ensure that patients at the end-of-life and their caregivers receive adequate symptom management and emotional support while experiencing the natural dying process in the inpatient setting
  • Development of a "Palliative Care Support for Transitions" program (modeled after the Medical Center of Central Georgia's program in conjunction with Navicent Health) to provide earlier attention to patients "at risk" for significant morbidity and mortality within one year via a spectrum of services ranging from intake evaluation, family and caregiver support and counseling, palliative care consultation, and earlier referral to hospice care as appropriate
  • Roll-out formal outpatient Palliative Care Consult services in conjunction with established service lines that provide care to patients at high risk to need Palliative Care including Oncology, Cardiology, Pulmonology, high-risk Perinatal/Neonatal care and Neurology - this will facilitate establishment of goals of care when patients are not in a time of crisis or incapacitated by illness or sedation
  • Continue participation in the Georgia Quality of Life and Palliative Care Advisory Council (which will guide legislative policy to address palliative care needs across the state) so that AUMC/CHOG will be well-positioned to be a leader in this increasingly important area of care provision
  • Link to community providers across our referral area (for education and care provision) as they provide basic palliative care for their patients - helping AUMC/CHOG to serve as the "tertiary care resource" for palliative care
  • Further development of relationships with community organizations (Area Council on Aging, Alzheimer's care centers, faith-based organizations, etc.) and local medical providers - via educational programs - to encourage participation in the POLST program
  • Development of a comprehensive educational program covering topics relevant to Hospice and Palliative Medicine targeted to all levels of medical providers and to include medical student, resident and fellow elective rotations
  • Serve as a continuous member of the institution's Ethics Committee including participation in Ethics Consults, curriculum development, and a variety of other Ethics-related activities
  • Serve as a resource for the Department of Pediatrics to provide both clinical Pediatric Palliative Care (inpatient, outpatient and home-based) and educational activities to improve the ability of Pediatric faculty, residents, fellows, and nurses to provide expert Pediatric Palliative Care currently and in their future endeavors (for trainees)
  • Active member of the medical staff.
  • Faculty position appointed by the Board of Directors upon a recommendation from the Executive Vice President for Health Affairs/CEO, Chief Medical Officer, and the Medical Executive Committee.
  • Board certification by a specialty board that is relevant to the services provided by the clinical service.
  • Georgia licensure.
  • Professorial rank commensurate with academic qualifications. Conditions of Employment All candidates are required to successfully pass a Background Check review. For specific positions, the final candidate may be subject to a (pre-employment) physical, drug screen, and/or credit check. The final candidate will be required to provide proof of completed academic degree in the form of an original transcript. Those candidates trained by a foreign institution will also be required to provide an educational/credential evaluation. How To Apply Please upload your Curriculum Vitae, Research Statement, Professional References, etc., as one document. Augusta University is proud to be an equal opportunity employer welcoming applicants from underrepresented groups, including individuals with disabilities and veterans.

Keywords: Clayton State University, Kalamazoo , Medical Director of Palliative Care and Hospice Services, Healthcare , Augusta, Michigan