Chief Medical Officer

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for a hospice organization serves as the senior physician executive responsible for clinical leadership, quality of care, regulatory compliance, and medical staff oversight.

This role ensures delivery of high-quality, patient-centered end-of-life care while aligning clinical operations with organizational strategy and Florida regulatory requirements (Medicare Conditions of Participation) and Florida state laws.

CMO supports interdisciplinary collaboration and organizational growth. 

Key Responsibilities

1. Clinical Leadership & Oversight

• Provide medical direction for all hospice and palliative care services 
• Ensure compliance with Medicare Hospice Conditions of Participation (CoPs) 
• Oversee pain and symptom management standards 
• Participate in complex case reviews and care planning 

Hospice-specific nuance:

• Certify and recertify hospice eligibility (terminal prognosis ≤ 6 months) 
• Guide interdisciplinary team (IDT) care plans 

2. Quality, Safety & Compliance

• Lead quality improvement (QI) and performance initiatives 
• Monitor clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and safety metrics 
• Ensure compliance with: 
• CMS regulations 
• Florida Department of Health / AHCA requirements 
• Oversee infection control, risk management, and utilization review 

3. Interdisciplinary Team Leadership

• Collaborate with: 
• Physicians
• APRNs & Nurses 
• Social Workers 
• Chaplains 
• Participate in Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) meetings 
• Promote team-based care and communication 

4. Provider Performance Oversight & Clinical Standards

• Establish and enforce clinical practice standards for all physicians and APRNs 
• Monitor provider performance through documentation audits, clinical outcomes, and productivity expectations 
• Address performance concerns through coaching, education, and structured improvement processes 
• Ensure consistency in clinical decision-making across the organization 

5. Strategic & Operational Leadership

• Contribute to organizational strategy and growth initiatives 
• Develop hospice service lines and community partnerships 
• Support census growth and referral relationships 
• Advise executive leadership on clinical matters 

6. Regulatory & Documentation Oversight

• Ensure accurate documentation for: 
• Eligibility certification 
• Face-to-face encounters 
• Billing compliance 
• Support audits and survey readiness

7. Community & External Relations

• Serve as a clinical ambassador to: 
• Hospitals 
• SNFs/ALFs 
• Physicians 
• Educate community partners regarding hospice care 

Qualifications: 

Required

• MD or DO degree 
• Board certification (often Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, or Hospice & Palliative Medicine) 
• Active or eligible Florida medical license 
• 5 years clinical experience (hospice/palliative preferred) 

Preferred

• Hospice & Palliative Medicine certification 
• Leadership experience (Medical Director, Associate CMO, etc.) 
• Advanced degree (MBA, MHA, MPH) 
• Current Hospital Privileges in the Hospice Service Area
• Experience with value-based care models 

Core Competencies

• Clinical excellence in end-of-life care 
• Leadership and team building 
• Regulatory knowledge (CMS hospice rules) 
• Data-driven decision making 
• Communication and conflict resolution 

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: CEO 
• Oversees: 
• Hospice physicians 
• Clinical programs 

Hospice Work Environment

• Mix of: 
• Administrative leadership (majority) 
• Limited direct patient care (varies by organization) 

• Settings: 
• Patient homes 
• Hospice inpatient units 
• Assisted Living / SNFs 

Hospice CMOs emphasize:

• End-of-life care philosophy 
• Symptom management 
• Regulatory compliance (Medicare hospice benefit) 
• Interdisciplinary care model 
  

Position will be categorized as category I (involves routine exposure to blood and body fluids/tissues).

• Standing
• Sitting
• Walking
• Lifting (raising or lower without mechanical aids) 50 lbs.
• Pushing or pulling
• Carrying objects
• Climbing (ascending or descending stairs or ladders)
• Crouching (bending at the knees)
• Kneeling (resting on bended knees)
• Crawling (moving about on hands and knees)
• Stooping (bending at the waist)
• Reaching (extending hands and arms in any direction)
• Handling (seizing, holding, grasping or turning objects)
• Typing, picking, pinching or otherwise working with fingertips
• Using arm muscles frequently
• Using leg muscles frequently or for extended periods
• Transferring patients: transfer from bed to chair, transfer from chair to bed and transfer from chair to toilet

Additional Information

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Incumbent may be required to perform emergency duty before, during and/or beyond normal work hours or days in the event of an emergency, crisis situation or disaster (man-made or natural) including evacuation sites. The person in the position will work in a smoke-free location and is expected to adhere to all smoking restrictions.

EEO/Drug Free Workplace