Director of Medical Services

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Austin, TX

About The Position

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage. Would you thrive in an environment where you learn and grow personally and professionally all while helping make a positive impact on people’s lives? Do you appreciate being around others like yourself who are dependable, trustworthy, hard workers who believe in the value of teamwork? HSCS is dedicated to building an atmosphere where employees feel valued and supported while providing specialized care for Texans in need. HSCS is comprised of ten psychiatric hospitals, two youth residential treatment facilities, and thirteen state supported living centers. Texas State Hospitals are a hub of excellence for forensic mental health and complex psychiatric care, with all facilities accredited by The Joint Commission. They provide state-of-the-art treatment that is recovery-oriented and science-based. If providing hope and healing through compassionate, innovative, and individualized care interests you, we welcome your application for the position below. Under the direction of the Chief Medical Officer, the Director of Medical Services serves as a statewide clinical leader responsible for strengthening the delivery of primary and specialized medical care across the State Hospitals (SHs) in alignment with accepted medical practices. The position establishes preventative and acute care policies and procedures, provides consultation and guidance to SH medical staff, and ensures integration of medical treatment with other hospital programs and services. Working closely with quality assurance activities, the Director of Medical Services reviews and monitors quality improvement plans, analyzes data for trends and systemic issues, and implements solutions that enhance medical department performance. This role also advises the Chief Medical Officer, Director of Operations, and Associate Commissioner on emerging infectious disease and other medical issues, disseminates information on treatment trends, utilizes evidence-based research and practices to make informed decisions, and develops training to expand staff knowledge. Works under the minimal supervision of the SH Chief Medical Officer with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Requirements

Skill in providing care for individuals with dual diagnoses of mental illness and substance use disorders.
Skill in the care and treatment of patients and in the use of medical diagnostic and treatment tools and equipment.
Skill in reviewing data, analyzing problems, formulating and implementing plans of corrections, and successfully leading change as evidenced by positive outcomes.
Skill in providing consultation, direction, and guidance to assist in the evaluation of individuals and implementation of an effective course of treatment in coordination with other interdisciplinary personnel.
Ability to direct a comprehensive medical services delivery program in multiple settings across the state of Texas.
Ability to devise solutions to administrative problems.
Ability to work cooperatively with other clinical and administrative professionals as a member of an interdisciplinary service planning team.
Ability to develop and evaluate administrative policies and procedures.
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing, and to work in an integrated setting
Ability to plan, assign and supervise the work of others, to direct medical activities, to examine, diagnose and treat physical or mental disorders, to interpret laboratory analyses and x-rays, and to prepare and supervise preparation of case histories and medical records.
Must be licensed as a medical doctor by the State of Texas.
Must have current registration certificates from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
Must possess a National Provider Identifier (NPI#) as defined by Medicare Part B.
Graduation from an accredited college of medicine/Osteopathic medicine program with a degree as a medical doctor/osteopathic physician.
Completion of an approved residency program in a specialty area related to pediatrics, family practice, internal medicine or preventative medicine.
Minimum three (3) years professional and clinical experience as a physician providing and coordinating healthcare services.
Minimum three (3) years experience leading, supervising and/or managing the work of others.
Mimimum two (2) years experience working with individuals with persistent serious mental illness.

Responsibilities

Directs strategic operations and planning to ensure the delivery of high-quality medical services to individuals served by SHs in accordance with current accepted medical practices. Ensures medical care is coordinated with other programs. Develops and implements statewide clinical policies and procedures for SHs. Establishes proactive guidance for preventive and acute care for individuals with serious mental illness. Trains on putting medical policies, procedures, and related forms into practice. Monitors policies and procedures for effectiveness.
Monitors medical trends and activities in treatment options through the review of publications, attending seminars, and reviewing guidance in specialty areas (e.g., Sepsis Alliance, Diabetes Association), to increase the understanding of various diagnoses with an emphasis on people with serious mental illness. Disseminates information to appropriate SH staff and medical directors. Directs the development or modification of medical forms within the electronic medical health record to improve interactions with other records, proactively target preventative care, and enhance the ability to extract data that can be used to make informed decisions and improve patient care.
Provides technical assistance to state hospitals and HSCS contracted facilities.
Reviews and advises admission staff regarding medical needs and the state hospitals’ ability to provide for the medical needs of proposed admissions.
Leads the development and coordination of quality assurance activities to ensure consistent, high-quality delivery of healthcare services aligned with facility and statewide policies, procedures, and evidence-based medical practices. Actively drives and participates in internal and external review processes. Conducts onsite visits to assess performance and identify opportunities for improvement. Directs and monitors SH quality improvement plans to strengthen medical department performance and promote optimal clinical outcomes.
Reviews guidance and best practices such as CDC guidance for pandemic response and issues medical opinions in accordance with current accepted medical practices. Advises the Chief Medical Officer, Director of Operations, and Associate Commissioner for SHs on matters of importance related to the efficient and effective delivery of healthcare services in SHs. Provides proactive input and justification to improve operations, more effectively allocate resources and for additional resources as needed. Participates in intra- and interagency committees and workgroups (e.g., State Executive Formulary Committee, Patient Safety Organization, and Institutional Review Board).
Consults with SHs and HSCS contracted facilities on unusual or difficult medical problems or cases requiring extraordinary care, providing direction and guidance to the treatment team. Assists SHs with Clinical Death Reviews and Ethics Committee meetings. Reviews patient records and files to determine the progress, effectiveness, and appropriateness of treatment(s) provided.
Provides leadership to promote strong collaboration and operational effectiveness among medical and other clinical areas. Facilitates, chairs and/or actively contributes to multiple interdisciplinary committees (e.g., polypharmacy, falls, sepsis, pneumonia, physical and nutritional management, and medication variance). Analyzes data from multiple sources for trends, systemic issues, and areas for improvement. Proactively identifies issues and implements solutions.
Provides support to SHs to develop and implement effective physician recruitment and retention strategies. Collaborates with hospital leadership and human resources teams to identify staffing needs, designs outreach initiatives, and promotes competitive opportunities that attract highly qualified medical professionals. Assists in analyzing turnover trends, evaluating workforce data, and recommending targeted initiatives that enhance retention, professional development, and job satisfaction among physicians. Works closely with stakeholders to ensure recruitment and retention activities align with organizational goals, budget considerations, and the delivery of high-quality patient care.
Performs other duties as assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Benefits

comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees
defined benefit pension plan
generous time off benefits
numerous opportunities for career advancement

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