Being a Medical Director is more than collecting a monthly paycheck. While there are some perks, including financial benefits, there are also several risks to becoming a medical director. Your name will be associated with many legal documents, and you will be in control of quality metrics for the facility.
What Is A Medical DirectorA medical director is a physician who provides oversight, guidance, and works for quality improvement in an organization or facility. Most states are legally required to have a medical director at facilities where health care is delivered.
The job title comes with a lot of legal and bureaucratic responsibilities. In return for a medical director's efforts, there is often a small to sometimes substantial financial compensation.
How To Look For Medical Director WorkRead about responsibilities of what it means to be a medical director.Call your insurance company to ensure that your malpractice will cover you or if you need to purchase additional coverage.Consider starting up a PLLC or LLC and contracting work through these entities for legal protection.Contact the facility and see if they have a need for your services.Agree on terms and monthly payment (usually for SNF work in my area is 1-3k/month). The larger the center, the larger the responsibilities, the higher the payoff.Start working, reviewing programs such as infection control, seeing patients.Attend the monthly meetings.Collect your monthly paycheck.It's Work: Don't Expect To Only Collect A Monthly FeeDue to the laws mentioned above, many SNFs, rehab centers, surgical centers, etc., have to have a medical director. In some cases, this gets abused. Doctors will attach their name to several facilities, but only show up for the monthly meeting.
Do not take this type of job only for the money. You will find out quickly that the office will be calling or emailing you several times a week to sign various documents.
Being Called Anytime With IssuesBeing a medical director often means that you need to be available when issues arise. Some doctors don't mind being "always on," but many others do. Be aware of what your call schedule is like and when you will need to be accessible.
Don't Do It For The Extra MoneyThere will be dozens of companies in your area who are in need of an individual to fill the medical director position. This could range from urgent care centers, nursing homes, rehab centers, home health companies, hospice agencies. Do your homework before signing up. It's not a free ride. Some companies will have you signing legal papers as a majority portion of your job, attaching legal responsibility to you.
First of all, ask yourself how much do you need the extra money before signing on as a medical director? If you don't mind the bureaucratic aspect of medicine and extra responsibility, this might be a good job for you.
#J-18808-Ljbffr