Medical Director, Palliative Care, Napa/Solano County - NorthBay Health

NorthBay Health's inpatient palliative care program uses a comprehensive approach to care for patients with serious illnesses. The goal is to relieve pain and other distressing physical symptoms and to optimize the quality of life for patients and families by addressing emotional, spiritual and social needs.

Palliative care is active medical care that relieves or soothes the symptoms of a disease, without primarily aiming to cure. Care is planned to meet the patient's unique goals. Palliative care can be provided concurrently with life-prolonging, curative treatment, or as the main focus of care for someone with a life-limiting illness while in the hospital.

Our team consists of a case manager, a social worker, and nurse practitioners/physicians who will work with your primary hospital provider.

We are seeking a Board Certified, Licensed Palliative Care physician to serve as the Medical Director for our Inpatient and potential Ambulatory Programs, with a focus on Palliative Care integration. This leadership role will be instrumental in establishing and overseeing our inpatient care services, developing collaborative programs with Oncology, Hospice, and other departments. The Physician Medical Director will also be responsible for administrative duties, policy development, workflow optimization, and providing education to healthcare teams.

• Schedule: Monday-Friday,  Dedicated administrative time; subject to change
• Inpatient/Outpatient Responsibilities: Balanced distribution of inpatient and outpatient care
• Call Ratio: No call coverage
• Daily Patient Census: Manage a consistent daily patient load
• Equipment/Resources: Access to state-of-the-art equipment and comprehensive resources
• Provider Support: Collaborative team of physicians and Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) (details on the number of physicians vs. APPs can be provided upon inquiry)

• Provide inpatient Palliative Care consultation.
• Lead the development and implementation of the inpatient Palliative care program, ensuring high-quality patient care and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with Oncology, Hospice, and other key departments to integrate services and optimize patient outcomes across the continuum of care.
• Review, update, and implement clinical policies and protocols to align with best practices and regulatory requirements, with a particular emphasis on Palliative Care standards.
• Develop and streamline workflows to enhance care coordination and patient transitions, including Palliative Care consultations and services.
• Provide clinical leadership and guidance to Hospital Medicine and Critical Care teams through educational in-service sessions and mentorship, with a focus on Palliative Care principles.
• Monitor program performance metrics, analyze data, and implement quality improvement initiatives as needed, including those specific to Palliative Care services.

• MD or DO degree
• Medical degree (MD or DO) from an accredited medical school.
• Board certification in a relevant specialty (e.g., Internal Medicine, Hospital Medicine, Palliative Care, etc.).
• Previous experience in a leadership role within a healthcare organization, preferably in program development or medical directorship with Palliative Care integration.
• Strong understanding of healthcare policies, regulations, and quality improvement methodologies, especially as they pertain to Palliative Care.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• Ability to effectively collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and external partners, prioritizing Palliative Care coordination and services.
• Licensed to practice medicine in the state
• Excellent diagnostic and problem-solving skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment