Medical Director, Medical Director Designee and Physician Services
Sets out how the Medical Director and Medical Director Designee are appointed and contracted, what they must do under California's hospice regulations (certification of terminal illness with an individual narrative, approving plans of care when there is no attending physician, receiving significant change reports, after-hours support, discharge orders), and how other physicians work under their supervision.
About this policy
- Policy number
- CA-HSP-MD-01
- Version
- 1.0
- Main rule
- 22 CCR §74856
- Library
- California hospice · 60 policies
- Category
- Governance
- Sections
- 16
In short
- Dr. Morgan Sample is the Medical Director. When the Medical Director is not available, Dr. Riley Sample has the same duties.
- The Medical Director certifies terminal illness with the patient's doctor and writes the reasons in their own words, right above their signature.
- If a patient has no attending doctor, only the Medical Director or designee may sign the plan of care.
- Report any significant change in a patient's condition so a physician is told as soon as possible and within 24 hours.
- After hours, call the on-call nurse line. The nurse knows which physician to contact.
What's inside
16 sections. The full text comes with the One-time Policy Pack.
- Terms of Reference
- 1. Purpose
- 2. Scope
- 3. Definitions
- 4. Policy Statement (22 CCR §74856; 42 CFR §418.102)
- 5. Appointment, Contract and Availability
- 6. Duties of the Medical Director
- 7. Other Hospice Physicians and Attending Physicians
- 8. Integrity of Physician Decisions
- 9. Responsibilities
- 10. Records and Compliance Monitoring
- 11. Staff Training
- 12. References
- 13. Related Policies and Forms
- 14. Approval
- 15. Revision History
An inspector may ask
- Show me the written appointments of the Medical Director and Medical Director Designee, and the contract that names the physician.
- How does the Medical Director review the clinical information before certifying terminal illness? Show me a certification narrative.
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