Associate Medical Director of Hospice and Palliative Care - Full-time / Part-time

Southwest Medical Associates (SMA) is a multi-specialty group of physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Assistants consisting of over 300 providers, 21 medical health centers including six urgent care clinics, four convenient care centers, two lifestyle centers catering to older adults, an outpatient surgery center, plus E-visits and online options via Now Clinic telemedicine technology.  SMA offers patients compassion, innovation, and quality care throughout southern Nevada. SMA is headquartered in the greater Las Vegas, NV area.
 
Southwest Medical Associates, part of OptumCare, is seeking an Associate Medical Director of Hospice and Palliative Care to join our team located in Las Vegas, NV. 
The Hospice Associate Medical Director, in coordination with the Hospice Medical Director, Executive Director and VP of Hospice organizes and assumes overall responsibility for the medical component of the Hospice and Palliative ‘s patient care program.
 
Southwest Medical Associates (SMA) has an integrated care system and this position participates with Medical Management to develop, collaborate and assesses patient for palliative post-acute care for opportunities.  This may include consultation in facilities and long term care to better upstream palliative concepts earlier in care delivery.  This position is also responsible to assist in the education of primary and specialty provider in SMA towards understanding the development of Life goals for patients with debilitating chronic illness and end of life care. 
 
The Hospice Medical Director supervises the Associate Medical Director. The Hospice Medical Director may delegate medical services and responsibilities to the Associate Medical Director in his/her absence. In collaboration with the patient’s attending physician, the Associate Medical Director is responsible for the palliation and management of the patient’s terminal illness and conditions related to the terminal illness. If the attending physician is unavailable or has opted to have Hospice be the primary provider, the Hospice Associate Medical Director is responsible for meeting the medical needs of the patient.
You will have the opportunity to mentor, supervise, and direct our employed medical oncology staff.  Additionally, in this position, you will guide processes that achieve improvement in the quality of patient care through evidence-based clinical practices and promote best practices in an integrative model of care.
Primary Responsibilities:


Works with Medical Director to assure the overall continuity of Hospice and Palliative medical care services.

Responsible for the overall medical component of the care and treatment of terminally ill patients and their families

Provides palliation and management of terminal illness conditions related to the terminal illness.

Provides medical care interventions targeting unmet general medical needs.

Attends IDG and collaborates with the Hospice or Palliative Team to ensure that the medical needs of the patient are met and providing oversight of the plan of care.

Collaborates with the patient’s attending physician to develop and update the patient’s plan of care, to identify needs not met by the attending physician, and to ensure pain and symptom management and control.

Serves as medical resource to hospice staff, patients, families, and attending physicians regarding pain and symptom control management.

Insures provision of direct medical services to patients either directly or through arrangements, as appropriate, in the absence of the patient’s attending physician.

Demonstrates knowledge in communications and counseling patient and family in dealing

Participates in resolution of interpersonal conflict and issues of clinical and ethical concerns.

Documents care provided in the medical record providing evidence of progression of the end- stage disease process.

Required to travel to homes of patients, facilities and meetings at various locations.

Provides Pre-election Evaluation and Counseling services.

Reviews patient’s clinical information before certifying and recertifying terminal illness and provides written certification at appropriate levels of care as per standards.

Completes and/or ensures Hospice Face-to-Face visits are completed prior to recertifying hospice patients as per standards.

Ensures physician and nurse practitioner documentation, billing and coding practices meet established standards.

Educates physicians and others engaged in health care services regarding the hospice and palliative care program, admission criteria and potential Hospice benefits to patients.

Obtains privileges at one or more hospitals / nursing facilities which provide inpatient services to hospice program patients.

Participates in the on-call physician rotation support – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Completes all job duties in a manner that meets the accepted standards of practice and the

Optum Palliative and Hospice Care Policies and Procedures.

Works collaboratively in a team approach with Hospice Staff to achieve goals.

Contributes to achieving the company’s mission.

Participates in reviewing and developing protocols for treatment, patient care policies and proposing the most current options for interventions.

Attends regularly scheduled in-services and educational conferences.

Maintains current knowledge of the latest research and trends in Hospice care and pain and symptom management.

Develops and achieves professional competencies, goals and objectives and reviews with supervisor.

Affiliates with professional organizations that represent hospice and palliative care.

Required Qualifications:

M.D. or D.O. degree
Completion of accredited ACGME or AOA Residency & Fellowship program
Board Certified in Internal Medicine or Family Practice
Board Certified/Board Eligible in Hospice and Palliative Care
1+ years of practice experience in the principles of palliative medicine and symptom management
Active and unrestricted medical license in the State of Nevada or ability to obtain
DEA License or ability to obtain.
Preferred Qualifications:


Training and experience in the psychological and medical needs of the terminally ill 

Knowledge of palliative care with particular emphasis on control of symptoms associated with terminal illness

Ability to work collaboratively with patient’s attending physicians to implement the hospice/palliative program

Ability to work collaboratively with hospice employees and volunteers as part of an interdisciplinary group

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Proficient in business computer skills
We offer patient care that is compassionate, appropriate and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health. Our employees work with professionalism, as manifested through a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to a diverse patient population.
We run a systems-based practice, as manifested by actions that demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care that is of optimal value.
 
We offer an attractive base salary, sign on bonus, quarterly bonus plan, and comprehensive fringe benefits package, including medical, dental, and life insurance, STD/LTD, professional liability, matching 401K, relocation costs, three weeks paid vacation, one week paid CME with $3500 allowance, and eight paid holidays. Differential for supervision of extenders.
 
Careers with Optum. Here's the idea. We built an entire organization around one giant objective; make the health system work better for everyone. So when it comes to how we use the world's large accumulation of health-related information, or guide health and lifestyle choices or manage pharmacy benefits for millions, our first goal is to leap beyond the status quo and uncover new ways to serve. Optum, part of the UnitedHealth Group family of businesses, brings together some of the greatest minds and most advanced ideas on where health care has to go in order to reach its fullest potential. For you, that means working on high performance teams against sophisticated challenges that matter. Optum, incredible ideas in one incredible company and a singular opportunity to do your life's best work. (sm)
 
Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
 
Job Keywords: Hospice, Palliative Care, Associate Medical Director, Physician, Las Vegas, Nevada, NV
 
 
 
Â