Hospice Medical Director

At Arc Hospice & Palliative Care, we are united by a mission to bring comfort, dignity, and compassionate support to every patient and family we serve. Join a team where your work has purpose, and your growth is supported.

Job Description Summary

The Hospice Medical Director serves as the highest-level physician leader, responsible for 
the overall medical direction, oversight, and quality of the hospice program in compliance 
with Medicare Conditions of Participation, state licensure regulations, and organizational 
policies. This role provides clinical leadership to the interdisciplinary group (IDG), 
collaborates with attending physicians, and ensures that all patients receive appropriate, 
compassionate, and timely medical care aligned with their goals. The Medical Director 
represents the hospice program within the medical community, provides education to staff 
and referral sources, and ensures 24/7 availability of physician services to meet patient 
needs.

Key Responsibilities

Provide overall medical direction for the hospice program, ensuring physician services are 
available on a 24-hour basis to meet patient needs when not met by the attending 
physician.
Oversee and approve all hospice admission decisions, ensuring that each patient meets 
initial and ongoing eligibility criteria in accordance with federal and state regulations.
Certify and recertify terminal illness in writing for all benefit periods, including required 
narrative statements, and sign and date certifications in compliance with Medicare 
Conditions of Participation.
Ensure all required face-to-face encounters for the third and subsequent benefit periods 
are completed by a qualified hospice physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, 
and that findings are documented and communicated to the certifying physician.
Collaborate with attending physicians to develop, review, approve, and update the plan of 
care at least every 15 days or more frequently as needed, ensuring alignment with patient 
goals and effective symptom control.
Oversee pain and symptom management strategies, ensuring adherence to evidencebased practices and patient-centered care principles.
Physically attends IDG meetings, providing input on patient care needs, eligibility, and care 
planning unless remote participation is approved by the VP of Clinical Operations.

Provide education and consultation to staff, volunteers, and community healthcare 
providers on the medical aspects of hospice care, ensuring staff competency in these 
areas.
Review all patient deaths for quality assurance purposes and participate in mortality review 
processes as required by state regulations.
Approve and review all clinical policies and procedures annually, ensuring they reflect 
current standards of hospice and palliative medicine.
Ensure ongoing availability for clinical consultation to hospice staff and community 
physicians.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of hospice and palliative medicine, including regulatory 
changes, clinical guidelines, and innovations in care delivery.
Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and 
accreditation standards related to hospice physician services.
Collaborate with organizational leadership to develop, implement, and monitor quality 
assessment and performance improvement (QAPI) initiatives that address medical aspects 
of care.
Serve as a hospice ambassador within the community, fostering relationships with 
physicians, referral sources, and healthcare organizations.
Act as the primary physician for patients when the attending physician chooses to 
relinquish care or is unavailable.
Oversee the work of associate and alternate medical directors, ensuring consistency in 
medical decision-making and compliance with organizational standards.
Conduct quarterly reviews of patient clinical records for compliance with the plan of care 
and hospice policies, as required by Pennsylvania regulations, if applicable.
Performs other duties as required.

Qualifications
Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree from an accredited 
institution.

Current, unrestricted license to practice medicine in the state of operation (Florida, 
Georgia, Texas, or Pennsylvania), meeting all state-specific requirements for hospice 
medical directors.
Maintains controlled substances registration with applicable state and federal agencies.
Minimum of two (2) years of experience in hospice or palliative care preferred; training or 
experience in end-of-life care required.
Board certification in Hospice and Palliative Medicine strongly preferred.
Excellent communication, leadership, and collaboration skills, with the ability to work 
effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team.
Not excluded from participation in the Medicare or Medicaid programs.
Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation required.
Demonstrates a strong commitment to delivering high-quality, person-centered care that 
reflects Arc Hospice & Palliative Care’s mission, values, and standards of dignity, respect, 
compassion, and integrity.

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions
This position requires frequent travel to patient homes, healthcare facilities, and 
organizational offices. Must be able to move between environments quickly and efficiently. 
Visual and auditory acuity are essential for patient assessment and effective 
communication. Work may involve exposure to infectious diseases and varying home or 
facility conditions. Standard precautions and personal protective equipment must be used 
as appropriate. This role requires the ability to respond to patient needs outside of normal 
business hours to ensure continuous availability of physician services.

Arc Hospice & Palliative Care is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds to join us in delivering compassionate, inclusive care. Explore the impact you can make with Arc Hospice today.