Medical Director of PACE

JOB DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Medical Director of PACE

Date: August 2023

FLSA: Exempt

Position purpose: The Medical Director of PACE is responsible for providing clinical leadership for the care and treatment of participants served by Esperanza’s Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. This position provides clinical direction and guidance to the PACE program and staff to assure the maintenance of quality care for participants and families. They are ultimately responsible for medical outcomes and serve as a liaison between the program and community physicians, as well as with others engaged in health care services. This position and/or their designees provide direct medical care as needed to participants in the home, the PACE center, and in other multiple healthcare settings. This position supervises the PACE program’s medical staff and those served by the interdisciplinary Care team (IDT). The Medical Director of PACE reports to the Chief Medical Officer.

MISSION: To promote healthy lifestyles and improve our patients’ health through the provision of high-quality health care and wellness services in the communities of Chicago’s southwest side.

VALUES HOPE: eliminating barriers that restrict access to quality health care.

HEALTH: impacting the community by providing quality integrated primary care and behavioral health services.

FAMILY: building our communities by helping families with prevention and self-care education.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities: (The following duties and responsibilities are all essential job functions except for those that begin with the word “May.”)

Administrative:

1. Work cooperatively with the Vice President of PACE to ensure quality care delivery to all participants, affirm the PACE mission, and educate team members on the PACE service delivery model.  
2. Coordinate the work of medical staff, chair medical staff meetings, and supervise educational plans of fellows, residents and students who rotate at the PACE center. 
3. Recruit and hire contract providers as appropriate for the program.
4. Work cooperatively with clinical staff, including integrating primary care providers into the PACE team, as needed.
5. Serve on appropriate organizational and corporate committees.
6. Lead specific projects as appropriate and directed by the Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of PACE.
7. Serve as a leader in the presentation of programs and research at regional, state, and national meetings and represent PACE at appropriate local, state, and national forums.
8. Assist in developing clinical practice standards for PACE physicians and nurses. 
9. Oversee PACE Quality Improvement (QI), working collaboratively with the QI Coordinator to identify, monitor and track quality improvement initiatives and grievances.
10. Participate in organized and structured reviews of adverse outcomes and lead towards a culture of safety.
11. Assist in the development of written guidelines and protocols as appropriate for the PACE program.
12. Support the PACE organization in fulfilling regulatory responsibilities when enrolling all eligible applicants.
13. Develop and review PACE policies and procedures.
14. Work with the Vice President of PACE to monitor and educate the IDT on total cost of care, cost-effective prescribing habits, medical appropriateness, and utilization reports and management.
15. Ensure regulatory compliance regarding medication management, including proper dispensing, administration, and avoidance of fraud, waste, and abuse.
16. Participate in medical reviews as needed and directed by the Vice President of PACE.
17. Maintain a regular schedule of medical participation in all components of the program and maintain medical staff coverage during PACE center business hours.
18. Establish and maintain a reliable and responsive care network to supplement primary care and assist in the care of PACE participants – including consultants, hospitals, nursing facilities, and a system for off-hours coverage.
19. Other duties as requested by the Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of PACE.

Clinical:

1. Provide supervision, including positive and constructive feedback, and conduct performance reviews for the clinical staff that report to the medical director.
2. Directly supervise advanced practice providers such as APNs.
3. Implement care protocols for the program.
4. Perform comprehensive history and physicals on new referrals.
5. Implement process and oversee documentation of complete diagnoses of participants.
6. Provide clinical expertise and participate in IDT decisions regarding diagnosis and medical management of participant needs, assuring that the highest quality of medical care is provided, and that continuity and comprehensiveness of care is maintained.
7. Provide suggestions to the IDT that foster high-quality, cost-effective care for all participants.
8. Assure a member of the medical staff reviews the admission history and physical examination for each participant, including all available hospitalizations, office notes, laboratory data, etc.
9. Participate in decisions regarding appropriateness of admissions, as necessary.
10. Act as a consultant to other members of the interdisciplinary team as needed.
11. Liaison with participant's referring/primary.
12. Serve as the primary care physician for participants enrolled in the PACE program.
13. Establish and implement a clinic schedule to provide direct participant care/medical services to participants enrolled in the PACE program.
14. Establish and implement a preventive care program as appropriate for participants enrolled in the PACE program.
15. Manage and round on PACE participants admitted to long-term care facilities or acute in participant facilities.
16. Conduct family or caregiver meetings as appropriate and as needed for PACE enrollees.
17. Assist in improving the quality of medical documentation by the medical staff.
18. Assist in securing medical records to better determine appropriate medical care for participants.
19. Provide coverage in the event of absence of other medical staff.

General Job Requirements (List any required knowledge, skills, experiences or training, including length of time necessary for proficiency, required to perform the job.)

1. MD or DO from an accredited medical school
2. Board Certified in Internal Medicine or Family Practice
3. Fellowship training in geriatrics preferred
4. License to practice medicine in the State of Illinois
5. Must have or be eligible for membership in good standing on the medical staff of the accredited hospitals in the PACE service network
6. Knowledge and experience in palliative medical practice and symptom management
7. Knowledge of the principles and practice of primary medical care
8. Ability to enhance, by association with the PACE program, the program’s visibility and reputation with practicing physicians and area hospitals
9. Ability to work collaboratively with PACE staff and volunteers as part of the IDT 
10. Excellent communication skills with participants/families/staff and community contacts
11. At least three years’ experience as a medical doctor
12. Must have at least two years of experience working with a frail/elderly population
13. Ability to make home/residence visits
14. Leadership skills to supervise medical staff
15. Bilingual (English and Spanish) required Reporting Relationship Reports to: Chief Medical Officer Supervises: 0 Machines, tools, equipment and work aids required: General office equipment

JOB SPECIFICATIONS (Minimum Requirements)

A. EDUCATION MD or DO from an accredited medical school. Board certified in Internal Medicine or Family Practice. Licensed to practice medicine in the State of Illinois

B. EXPERIENCE: Three or more years’ experience as a medical doctor and two or more years working with frail/elderly population

C. SKILLS (Check all related experiences, attributes or skills required to perform the job.) Communication skills Medical Terminology Team Building skills Typing skills 50WPM Interpersonal skills Analytical skills Basic reading/math skills Excellent Customer Service skills Customer Service skills Spelling/Grammar skills Demonstrates initiative Organization skills Bilingual skills English/Spanish Clerical skills (specify) * faxing, filing, copying, calculator Computer skills (specify) * Windows and database systems Supervisory skills 1-2 years

D. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Ability to perform repetitive tasks Ability to reach above shoulder level Ability to distinguish colors High degree of manual dexterity Ability to grip Ability to bend a knee Ability to stand for long periods of time Ability to maneuver (pulling, pushing, lifting) the weight of patients or equipment Ability to walk the equivalent of 2 miles per day Ability to adapt to shift work Ability to sit for periods of time Ability to climb stairs or ladder Ability to lift 25 pounds Ability to squat Ability to perform CPR

E. MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL REQUIREMENTS Ability to cope with a high level of stress Ability to make fast decisions under pressure Ability to cope with the anger/fear/ hostility of others in a calm manner Ability to manage altercations Ability to concentrate High degree of versatility Ability to cope with confrontation Ability to handle multiple priorities in a stressful situation Ability to assist with problem resolution Ability to work alone Ability to demonstrate a high degree of patience Ability to adapt to shift work Ability to work in areas that are close and crowded

F. PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

G. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS/WORKING CONDITIONS:

H. FOR NURSING/PATIENT CARE JOBS-CHECK AGE(S) OF PATIENTS SERVED 1Adult (>17 years to 65 years) 1Geriatric (65 years and above)

I. LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS: MD, DO- licensed to practice in State of Illinois

J. HOURS/SHIFTS WORKED: Full-Time,

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or logical assignment to the positions. Performs other related duties as assign or requested.