About this Physician Director of Healthcare Services role at National Church Residences
Job Description:
Title: Physician Director of Healthcare Services
Division: Senior Services/Senior Living
OT Status: Exempt
Reports to: Vice President of Primary Care Services
Revision date: August 2026
Management Level: Director
Job Classification
Job Family Group: Clinical Operations
PURPOSE
According to prescribed policies and procedures of the organization including all applicable state, federal and accreditation regulations and reporting to the Vice President, the incumbent provides clinical leadership, oversight, and strategic direction across primary care, hospice, and Continuing Care Retirement Community/Skilled Nursing Facilities (CCRC/SNF) settings. This role ensures high-quality, compliant, patient-centered care delivery while supporting interdisciplinary collaboration, value-based care initiatives, and continuous quality improvement.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Clinical Oversight and Patient Care
Ensure availability of physician services 24 hours a day for urgent or emergent needs, directly or through appropriate coverage.
Oversee and review patients’/residents’ overall condition and plan of care, including medications and treatments.
Provide timely documentation, including signed progress notes and clinical updates.
Establish appropriate frequency of visits based on patient/resident needs and regulatory requirements.
Review, sign, and date all required orders, including admissions, re-admissions, and medication orders.
Review consultant recommendations and ensure appropriate follow-up related to physician services.
Serve as attending physician for patients/residents when requested and clinically appropriate.
Leadership and Collaboration
Provide clinical leadership and education to providers, staff, and care teams.
Participate in interdisciplinary care discussions, including patients/residents, families, and stakeholders.
Support program development and service enhancements across care settings.
Engage in quality assurance committees and organizational initiatives.
Assist with incident reviews, root cause analysis, and response to public health events as needed.
Administrative and Compliance Responsibilities
Provide on-call coverage and professional services when attending physicians are unavailable.
Review and periodically update patient care policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable laws, current regulatory and professional standards.
Serve as an active member of quality assurance committees.
Ensure timely completion of all required documentation to support compliance and reimbursement.
ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS SPECIFIC TO SERVICE LINE
Skilled Nursing Facility Medical Director Definition: The physician leader responsible for ensuring that medical care is coordinated and that resident care policies are developed, implemented, and followed in accordance with professional standards and CMS requirements.
Skilled Nursing Facility Medical Director Responsibilities
Ensure implementation of resident care policies and the coordination of medical care in the facility
Collaborate with facility leadership, staff, practitioners, and consultants to develop, implement, and evaluate policies that reflect current standards of practice
Help identify, evaluate, and resolve medical and clinical issues affecting resident care, quality of life, and physician services
Coordinate medical care throughout the facility
Ensure availability of physician services 24 hours a day in case of emergency
Provide clinical leadership across SNF/CCRC environments to support resident health and wellness.
Participate in Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) activities. Monitoring and improvement of key SNF quality measures, including falls, pressure ulcers, antipsychotic use, vaccination rates, and rehospitalizations.
Review and guide clinical policies and procedures to ensure compliance with regulations and standards of care.
Participate in regulatory survey preparation and response activities.
Review clinical outcomes and quality indicators to drive improvement. Leadership of initiatives to reduce avoidable hospitalizations, emergency department transfers, and readmissions.
Oversight of physician and advanced practice provider services within the SNF, including stepping in as needed for coordination of medical staff and third-party services.
Medical oversight of the Antibiotic Stewardship Program and review of antimicrobial prescribing practices, as well as psychotropic medication management and behavioral health practices.
Participation in value-based care initiatives
Hospice Oversight Responsibilities
Provide 24/7 availability for hospice-related clinical questions, orders, prescriptions (including controlled substances), and documentation, or ensure appropriate on-call coverage.
Participate in weekly Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) meetings across service areas.
Review the clinical information for each Agencies patient and provide written certification that it is anticipated that the patient’s life expectancy is six (6) months or less if the illness runs its normal course.
Ensure timely review and approval of hospice-related orders within 30 days, care plans, and documentation to support care delivery and reimbursement.
Provide oversight for General Inpatient (GIP) care, including order management and discharge summaries.
Sign death certificates when serving as attending physician.
Support documentation related to patient competency, guardianship, and family-related needs (e.g., FMLA).
Primary Care / Value-Based Care (At Your Door) Oversight Responsibilities
Perform physician visits as appropriate in support of value-based care initiatives.
Serve as collaborating physician for Advanced Practice Providers (APPs).
Review clinical outcomes and quality indicators and conduct chart audits and provide clinical oversight of APP-delivered care.
Support care management programs and ensure alignment with population health strategies.
Participate in business development discussions with potential partners.
Provide clinical leadership support, staff education, and stakeholder engagement.
EXPECTATIONS
Demonstrates and maintains a positive, professional manner, manages time efficiently and effectively, provides leadership as a role model to promote a team approach, collaborates and participates in policy creation and appropriate problem-solving methods.
Must adhere to all policies, procedures, terms and conditions set forth in the National Church Residences’ Employee Information Guide (EIG), the Code of Conduct, as well as any facility handbook, including but not limited to, corporate compliance, drug free workplace, safe work practices, all federal, state, local regulations and laws.
With respect to Resident Rights, ensure all care is provided with respect and dignity for the residents/clients, their families and the staff. Reports all complaints made by residents/clients and/or families to the appropriate supervisors, reports all allegations of abuse, misappropriation of funds/resident property and/or any other corporate compliance, drug free workplace, safe work practices, all federal, state and local regulations and laws.
Completes all annual education requirements timely, including but not limited to Compliance, Privacy, Security and HIPAA training and exhibits behavior as set forth by the Code of Conduct in the performance of their duties.
Performs other duties as assigned.
JOB SPECIFICATION SHEET— Physician Director for Healthcare Services
Education: Doctor of Medicine (MD, DO) degree. Must possess a thorough knowledge of healthcare management principles and techniques.
Experience: Minimum of 7 years of leadership experience, including progressive leadership responsibilities in the healthcare industry, inclusive of experience in multispecialty medical groups, integrated healthcare delivery systems, and/or hospitals. Knowledge of the content, intent, and application of regulations, policies, standards, operations, and requirements applicable to the Health Ministry and state environment. Successful track record of providing effective administrative and clinician leadership, developing clinician engagement and driving clinical quality outcomes.
Mental: Must have excellent communication, comprehension, and interpersonal skills. Must have the ability to speak, read, write and understand English, as well as the ability to make self-understood.
Skills: Must have good working computer skills with basic professional computer software (Microsoft Office suite, Windows, etc.) and the capacity for learning new software systems quickly. Must be self-directed with excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage tasks and assignments concurrently. Must be able to successfully lead others in an environment of complexity.
Must have strong motivational skills and a high emotional intelligence quotient (EQ)
Travel: Frequent , up to 74%
Licensure: License must be in good standing in the state in which you are practicing.
Vision: Normal: Consistent with standard workflow.
With respect to said job description, estimate the daily time spent performing the following activities.
Rare ( R) = 0-24%; Sometimes ( S) = 25-49%; Frequent ( F) = 50-74%; Continuous ( C) = 75% plus
R = Climbing R = Stooping Lifting / Carrying; S = 10-25 lbs.
S = Standing R = Pushing S = 26-50 lbs.
F = Sitting R = Pulling R = 51-75 lbs.
S = Walking F = Driving ` R = 76 plus lbs.
Working Conditions: Office based. Due to occasional work in long term care facilities, exposure to some disagreeable conditions such as noise, odors, illness, infection and physical contact with disruptive residents.
This position operates across multiple care settings, including outpatient, hospice, and residential care environments, requiring collaboration with interdisciplinary teams and flexibility in scheduling to meet patient and organization needs.
Consequences of Errors: Moderate monetary responsibility.
Supervision Received: General supervision: Employee generally operates by himself/herself checking with supervisor when in doubt.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, military status, disability, genetic information and/or any other characteristics protected by applicable law.
