Physician Associate Medical Director

Amedisys, Inc.•East Hartford, CT

About The Position

The Physician Associate Medical Director is responsible for ensuring the highest possible quality of life for patients in the final stages of life, with a focus on comfort, dignity, and emotional support. The role works with a multidisciplinary team—including nurses, social workers, chaplains, and hospice aides—to develop and implement individualized care plans addressing patients’ and families’ physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. The position provides and oversees hospice and palliative medical care, including assessments, symptom management, admissions and certifications, care coordination, clinical consultation, and on-call coverage. It also contributes to quality improvement, clinical education, professional advisory activities, regulatory compliance, and supervision of Nurse Practitioners.

Requirements

Medical degree (MD or DO) from an accredited medical school.
Current, unencumbered license to practice in the state assigned.
Membership in good standing on the medical staff of at least one contracted hospital.
Current CPR certification.
Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and agency-required liability insurance to complete home visits.

Nice To Haves

Board certification in hospice and palliative medicine.
Hospice Medical Director certification.

Responsibilities

Conduct comprehensive face-to-face patient assessments, manage symptoms, and provide palliative care to alleviate pain and discomfort.
Oversee patient admissions, discharges, certifications, recertifications, and medication management.
Ensure appropriate evaluation and certification or recertification of terminal prognosis at admission and at the end of each certification period.
Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings to develop and update hospice patient care plans.
Be available for acute patient clinical problems that cannot be resolved by staff or the primary or on-call physician, and provide consultation or joint visits in a hospital or at home when indicated, including in collaboration with the GIP physician.
Communicate empathetically with patients, families, and caregivers, providing guidance and support throughout the hospice journey.
Coordinate care with other healthcare providers to support seamless transitions and continuity of care.
Lead goals-of-care discussions with patients and families when appropriate.
Educate patients and families about hospice philosophy, treatment options, and end-of-life care.
Serve as the physician or designee of the Professional Advisory Committee.
Maintain accurate and thorough medical records documenting patient progress and treatment plans.
Follow regulatory and organizational standards and ensure ethical and legal compliance.
Conduct educational seminars, in-services, and presentations for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare audiences to improve care quality, promote hospice services, and increase patient access.
Assist with policy reviews to improve care quality and efficiency at the care center during quarterly QAPI meetings.
Communicate with attending physicians to determine patient eligibility and obtain necessary medical records.
Participate, as requested, in strategies to build relationships with local physicians, hospitals, and nursing facilities.
Provide on-call coverage for medical emergencies and patient referrals.
Collaborate with other care center physicians to establish and maintain a shared call schedule for consistent coverage and continuity of hospice care.
Participate in utilization reviews and periodic clinical record reviews.
Serve on the care center’s professional advisory group and provide feedback on clinical practice and operations.
Conduct quarterly telephone meetings with the Hospice Medical Director.
Supervise Nurse Practitioners in accordance with state requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned.