Associate Medical Director

Associate Director Responsibilities (focus on Primary Care, SUD services, and Behavioral Health):

• In conjunction with program leadership, creates, contributes to and implements policies pertaining to the HR360 behavioral and medical care. 
• In collaboration with Nurse Manager, program leadership, regional leadership, and Medical Director works to ensure quality, efficient patient care.
• Provides full supervision in addition to clinical supervision and oversight for Advanced Practice Providers including entering into Collaborative Agreements with the Advanced Practice Provider, providing supervision and having input in the clinical review, performance appraisal, peer review and hiring and termination providers and clinical support staff.
• Provides supervision and oversight of quality of care among providers and ancillary staff in clinical areas. This includes being available for consultations.
• Strategize how best to allocate resources to support expanded services.
• In conjunction with the Medical Director, ensures that appropriate care is delivered to all patients; from withdrawal management and Residential Treatment Center (RTC) to Intensive Outpatient (IOP) and other outpatient services.
• In conjunction with the Medical Director, fosters integration of services at the programs.
• Provide 50% administrative oversight and 50% direct patient care. Direct patient care to administrative ratio may vary at the discretion of the Medical Director.
• Champions Quality Improvement efforts.
• Ensures patient access to care by monitoring provider productivity targets. In conjunction with the Medical Director supports providers in attaining goals through practice management or other support.
• Work with Nurse Manager to ensure adequate productivity of nursing staff as set forth by the organization.
• Work with Medical Director to ensure adequate productivity of providers (MD/DO/NP/PA) as set forth by the organization.
• Is an active member of the program leadership team. Actively fosters collaboration and furthers integration efforts among service areas.

Clinical Staff Direction Responsibilities: 

• Reviews employee performance, provides feedback and makes recommendations for individual performance improvement and development for medical providers and other staff. 
• Performs annual performance appraisal of providers.
• Orients new physicians and advanced practice providers; monitors performance during initial employment and thereafter through peer review, chart audits, utilization review and other processes.
• Supervises advanced practice providers:
  • Participate in regular supervision meetings with medical providers.
  • Be available for consultations when difficult or complex patients arise.
  • Review a set number of charts for each provider; this number will vary based one experience and credentials of the provider and will be determined by the Medical Director.
  • When certain forms or documents require a physician signature, review said forms with provider and execute signature if care is appropriate. 
• Responds to patient requests for information and assistance (e.g., form completion, prescription refills, etc.) in a timely manner.
• Provides on-call after-hours availability as requested by the Medical Director.  
• Works evening and weekends as required.
• Works directly with the Nurse Manager to provide competent care and provides oversight of nursing staff.
• Provides withdrawal management services, MAT, as well as behavioral and Incidental Medical Services related medical and psychiatric care in the RTC and IOP settings.

Agency Development/Support Responsibilities:

• Attends and participates in Integrated Team Meetings.
• Able to precept for medical students, residents, and fellows -educate, train, and supervise volunteers when necessary.
• Supports and actively participates in clinical performance improvement initiatives.
• Participates in on going internal and/or external leadership development opportunities.
• Meets regularly with the medical director.

San Diego County Specific Requirements:

• Ensure that medical care provided by physicians, registered nurse practitioners, and physician assistants meets the applicable standard of care.
• Ensure that physicians do not delegate their duties to non-physician personnel.
• Ensure that physicians, registered nurse practitioners, and physician assistants follow the provider's medical policies and standards.
• Ensure that the medical decisions made by physicians are not influenced by fiscal considerations.
• Ensure that provider's physicians and LPHA’s are adequately trained to perform diagnosis of substance use disorders for beneficiaries, determine the medical necessity of treatment for beneficiaries and perform other physician duties, as outlined in this section.
• Review clients’ health/medical information and drug history and document their review along with any orders and/or recommendations. The substance use disorder medical director may delegate his/her responsibilities to a physician consistent with the provider's medical policies and standards; however, the substance use disorder medical director shall remain responsible for ensuring all delegated duties are properly performed.
• A substance use disorder medical director shall receive a minimum of five (5) hours of continuing medical education in addiction medicine each year.