Medical Director

Position Summary

The Medical Director provides clinical leadership for the hospice program and ensures high-quality, compassionate care for patients and families. This role guides the interdisciplinary team (IDG), supports attending physicians, oversees patient eligibility and recertification, and ensures that symptom management aligns with hospice standards and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership & Patient Care

• Serve as the primary medical resource for the interdisciplinary group (IDG).

• Collaborate with attending physicians to ensure continuity of care.

• Conduct face-to-face visits as required.

• Oversee pain and symptom management to ensure patient comfort.

• Provide direct medical care or coordinate care in the absence of the attending physician.

• Participate in developing and reviewing individualized plans of care.

Hospice Eligibility & Documentation

• Certify hospice eligibility based on diagnostic and prognostic indicators.

• Complete recertifications for continued Medicare Hospice Benefit at appropriate levels of care.

• Prepare and sign Certificates of Terminal Illness and physician narratives.

• Review clinical information to determine life expectancy of six months or less.

• Document medical assessments clearly and accurately in the clinical record.

Team Collaboration & Education

• Participate in IDG meetings and collaborate with staff to ensure patient needs are met.

• Provide education and consultation to staff, physicians, patients, and families on hospice philosophy, admission criteria, and symptom management.

• Support conflict resolution, ethical discussions, and communication around end-of-life issues.

• Act as a liaison to community physicians and healthcare partners.

Quality, Compliance & Program Support

• Maintain knowledge of current hospice research, clinical trends, and evidence-based interventions.

• Participate in performance improvement initiatives and protocol development.

• Ensure compliance with Medicare, state regulations, and accrediting bodies (e.g., CHAP/ACHC).

• Assume Medical Director duties as needed, including on-call coverage and leadership responsibilities.

Qualifications

• MD or DO, licensed to practice medicine in the state of Georgia.

• Experience in hospice, palliative care, or end-of-life care required.

• Active controlled substances registration (state and federal).

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Positive, professional demeanor and ability to work collaboratively with teams.

• Not excluded from the Medicare program.