Medical Director, Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit – 24-Bed Program

Emory University • Atlanta, GA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Director provides clinical, operational, and strategic leadership for a 24-bed Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (IRU) located within a major trauma medical center. The unit primarily serves patients recovering from stroke, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury, along with a population of underinsured individuals requiring comprehensive rehabilitative care. The Medical Director ensures the delivery of high-quality, equitable, and efficient rehabilitation services while coordinating closely with trauma, neurology, acute care, and community health partners.

Requirements

• MD/DO with Board Certification in PM&R; eligibility for state licensure.
• Minimum 3–5 years of inpatient rehabilitation experience; strong expertise in stroke rehabilitation.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with underserved populations and multidisciplinary teams.
• Working knowledge of CMS IRF regulations, documentation standards, and CARF/TJC accreditation processes.

Nice To Haves

• Fellowship training in Brain Injury Medicine, Stroke, Spinal Cord Injury or related areas.
• Experience with population health, community outreach, or safety-net systems.
• Academic, teaching, or research experience, especially related to stroke or health equity.

Responsibilities

• Lead the IRU’s interdisciplinary care model, emphasizing evidence-based stroke and other neurological health conditions rehabilitation and culturally competent care for underserved populations.
• Oversee medical stability and admission appropriateness, especially for under insured or medically complex patients.
• Coordinate with neurology, ICU, trauma, and emergency services to streamline transfers after acute stabilization.
• Champion initiatives addressing social determinants of health, access barriers, and continuity of care.
• Ensure regulatory compliance (CARF, CMS IRF, Joint Commission) including 60% rule, IRF-PAI accuracy, and QRP reporting.
• Monitor stroke-specific metrics (functional gains, community discharge rates, readmissions, LOS efficiency) and disparities in access and outcomes for underinsured groups.
• Oversee daily operations, staffing, and throughput of a 24-bed unit in partnership with the IRU Nurse and Rehabilitation Therapies Manager.
• Develop standardized stroke pathways and care bundles to improve efficiency and functional recovery.
• Optimize bed utilization and expedite transfers from trauma, neuro, and acute care units.
• Work closely with case management to secure post-discharge resources for uninsured or underserved patients, including community agencies and charity programs.
• Participate in IRU call coverage schedule.
• Support training for residents, fellows, APPs, therapists, and nursing staff with emphasis on stroke rehabilitation and health equity.
• Promote quality improvement initiatives addressing disparities in rehab access and outcomes.
• Maintain board certification, CME requirements, and promote ongoing staff competency.
• Guide development of stroke-focused specialty programming, including advanced neurorehabilitation technology and community reintegration initiatives.
• Build partnerships with community health organizations, free clinics, and social service agencies to support uninsured patients.
• Collaborate on grants or community health initiatives addressing gaps in rehabilitation access and equity.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, medical director stipend, and quality/outcome-based incentives.
• Comprehensive benefits including CME funding and malpractice coverage.
• Academic appointment potential if affiliated with a teaching institution.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree