Hospice and Palliative Physician
Posted
Description
The Hospice and Palliative Care Physician is responsible for working in concert with Hospice of the Chesapeake’s (HOC’s) other Hospice and Palliative Care Physicians, while under the supervision of the Medical Director. In addition, the Hospice and Palliative Care Physician provides expertise in the delivery of hospice and palliative care services through the referral process, admission of the patient, plan of care, and throughout the course of service.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Provides assistance to the Hospice Medical Director and Director of Medical Services in ensuring staff and department compliance with organization, local, state and federal laws, regulations, standards, and requirements of regulatory and accreditation agencies (e.g. JC/DOH/CMS), including those governing professional practice, and contractual arrangements (e.g. grants).
- Provides medical expertise to Hospice Medical Director and organizational leadership in effectively overseeing preparations for surveys, administrative review and/or peer reviews and in maintaining standards and procedures which comply with licensure and accreditation requirements. Assists in implementing corrective action required as a result of survey/review findings.
- Provides input in developing and implementing department policies and procedures and ensuring consistencies with organization policies.
- Effectively participates in Quality/Performance Improvement (QI/PI) programs in collaboration with supervisor. Bases QI/PI plan decisions on trends and needs and seeks staff input. Ensures that appropriate tools are in place to achieve QI/PI goals.
- Demonstrates knowledge of regulations, policies and procedures applicable to the practice of hospice and palliative care. Confirms patient eligibility for hospice services in accordance with admission/recertification criteria and per hospice policy. This includes the CTI (certificate of terminal illness) and the attestation statement for each patient admitted under their responsibility.
- Ensures that medical devices are provided in a safe manner and that staff are oriented to and are knowledgeable of hospice-wide and departmental safety policies and procedures.
- Makes home/resident, hospital or HOC facility (i.e. ICC) visits to provide patient/family medical support and consultation to attending physicians and interdisciplinary team. Provides F2F visits for team patients and as assigned. Staff location assignments are based on patient and service need and medical team availability.
- Serves as a liaison with existing and potential sources of referral, including physicians, discharge planners, and third-party payers, by education regarding end-of-life care, hospice capabilities, pain and symptom management.
- Educates the medical community of our service area about the value of hospice and palliative care. Functions as a liaison when appropriate with the medical community by contacting physicians who are new referral sources, arranging visits to the medical staff of service area hospitals and offering programs and materials for physician education and providing consultation to attending physicians in the area of pain management and symptom control.
- Attends and participates in interdisciplinary (IDT) meetings where assigned. Collaborate with the clinical manager to assure IDT meetings are productive and comprehensive in addressing patient/family needs and that efficient participation of all team members is encouraged.
- The Hospice and Palliative Care Physician provides staff education pertinent to specific patient diagnoses and hospice and Supportive Care issues.
- The Hospice and Palliative Care Physician demonstrates the ability to distinguish between billable and administrative visits and codes appropriately. Documentation is submitted within 24 hours of the visit
- Attends and actively participates in appropriate committee meetings at affiliated hospitals/facilities to ensure that hospice and palliative care needs and concerns are communicated and addressed.