Executive Director - Hospice Job Description

The Medical Director of a Hospice Care Team

A patient's Hospice Care Team is made up of highly trained, multidisciplinary group of care professionals who play a role in the planning, provision, and management of the patient's end-of-life care. The medical director is responsible for ensuring that every patient's care wishes are honored, that the team is supported, and that the care goals set for each patient are being achieved. Hospice medical directors are committed to providing the highest level of care and that the care provided meets every patient's unique needs.

The medical director is responsible for developing a comprehensive medical care plan for each patient and ensuring that every member of the hospice team, caregivers, and the patient's family are knowledgeable of the care plan. Before a patient is admitted to a Hospice care program, a medical director must verify that the patient is dying and is qualified to receive Hospice care. The medical director of the hospice plays a crucial role in supporting the care team and ensuring that the patient care program is operating at the highest of standards.

The medical directors of the hospice play a role in keeping the plan clear. Quality assessments can be performed to improve existing programs. Hospice medical directors are required to develop and use internal quality assessments that analyze the constant improvement of the quality of care and the effectiveness and safety of patients and family.

The medical director's main job is to provide patient care and support the team, but they also have other responsibilities. The medical director of the hospice ensures that families understand what treatments and medications will be used in the pursuit of providing end-of-life care, while keeping in mind that there can be many moving pieces. The medical director of the Hospice ensures that the family's wishes for their loved one's end-of-life care honored if the patient cannot communicate for themselves.

The medical director of the Hospice decides if the patient or the patient's family member can safely administer drugs and biologicals at home during the in-depth group meeting. The primary focus of a hospice medical director is to provide patients with the highest level of quality end-of-life care that is in alignment with their personal care wishes. Hospice volunteers have a huge impact on the lives of patients, the team of volunteers that they are a part of, and the families and friends of the dying.

The Director of a Hospice

A hospice director is usually responsible for coordinating medical services for patients nearing the end of their lives. The director, sometimes known as the hospice administrator, is responsible for ensuring compliance with all local, state or regional regulations. The director of the hospice is responsible for hiring and may even take on a teaching role for staff needing further training.

The director is supposed to act as a liaison between patients, families and staff. The director of the hospice is responsible for making sure the budget approved is appropriate and that expenses are in line with revenues. The goal of budgeting could be different depending on what type of hospice the director is working for.

Expenses are always to ensure that they never exceed revenues at a non-profit hospice. The goal is to reach certain profit levels. The paperwork and tax filing are different between the two types of agencies.

The hospice director has a lot of responsibilities, one of which is personnel oversight. The director of human resources may have influence over some of the people that they hire. The director is responsible for making sure that staff are trained on new regulations and standards of care when the hospice has new policies to be implemented.

The Director of a Hospice Department

Hospice directors need dedication, passion to serve others and understanding of death and dying. Hospice doesn't provide treatment to cure an illness, but instead provides palliation of physical, emotional and psychosocial pain. The director of the hospice department is responsible for the operations of the department.

The hospice industry is changing fast. The director of the hospice is responsible for staffing, regulatory compliance and family interactions. If you can find out how candidates handle stress, you can find out how they will deal with stress on the job.

Candidates who handle stress may share examples. The interdisciplinary team has a requirement of availability to patients. The director of the Hospice, nurses and physicians are usually available seven days a week.

If candidates don't have the flexibility to stay available at all times, inquire how they'd cover their absence during a patient emergency. An ideal candidate will be available at all times. The director will work with others.

The members include physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, chaplains, social workers, counselors, therapists and volunteers. Good communication skills and team work are required for the best care for a patient at a Hospice. Candidates who have experience interdisciplinary teamwork may share their experiences.