AHS Medical Director - Exempt

The Medical Director (MD) reports directly to the Agency of Human Services (AHS) Secretary or Secretary’s designee and is responsible for providing medical expertise to AHS departments: Department of Corrections (DOC), Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living (DAIL), Department of Mental Health (DMH), and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and their health systems to ensure and drive further quality improvement. The MD will collaborate closely with staff and contracted health providers in all the departments. The MD will oversee clinical programs across the AHS Departments in the interest of ensuring their clinical and operational alignment. The MD will identify effective and efficient ways to continually improve the programs’ services with a focus on improving the patient’s experience of care, including quality and satisfaction, and the overall goal of improving the health outcomes of AHS populations.

The Medical Director will also provide clinical leadership and physician oversight related to the AHS forensic  facility, including clinical services for incarcerated individuals  who may have complex co-occurring needs such as mental health and/or substance use disorders, medical disorders, developmental or intellectual disabilities, or competency-restoration service needs. The Medical Director will support the development and implementation of clinical standards, policies, treatment programming, and quality oversight for forensic programming and will provide independent medical review where required by law, rule, or Agency policy.

The MD will coordinate and collaborate with the DOC’s contracted comprehensive health services provider. The MD assists in resolving patient care issues, develops quality and outcome measures to support overall health outcome improvements, represents the department at internal and external meetings. Serves as a clinical expert assisting and guiding departments clinical and non-clinical staff as it relates to best practices and standards of care that are evidence based. 

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Experience and Subject Matter Expertise
 

• Attainment of M.D. or D.O. degree and Board Certification in an ABMS approved specialty. American Board of Preventative Medicine certification in Addiction Medicine or Board eligible preferred. Psychiatritry strongly preferred.
• Current license to practice medicine in Vermont
• Meets Vermont Medicaid credentialing standards
• At least five years of clinical practice experience
• Demonstrated success in a medical management leadership role
• Expert knowledge of care management and quality improvement programs
• Understanding of national and Vermont health reform initiatives
• Experience providing healthcare to underserved communities with significant health risks.
• Experience treating patients with acute and complex medical needs, such as but not limited to co-occurring substance use disorder, mental health, and medical disorders and conditions.
• Experience with EQRO standards and process.
• Familiarity with electronic health record systems

Computer Skills (or other technical skills) – Must have functional knowledge of Microsoft 365 including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Process Improvement Knowledge and Abilities – A strong ability to examine and document work processes, identify and recommend improvements in efficiency and effectiveness, and build procedures to ensure that successful results will be replicated is required.

Communication Skills – Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Interpersonal Skills – Advanced ability to build effective relationships (within company, within broader community), work effectively in a team-based environment, motivate, build consensus, negotiate, persuade, facilitate, resolve conflicts, demonstrate tact/sensitivity, and observe confidentiality.

Organizational Abilities – Advanced ability to effectively prioritize work, multitask, direct/participate in group, demonstrate both independence and interdependence, exercise judgment, and work effectively in fast paced environment. Experience and skill in change management is important.

Analytical Skills – Advanced ability to analyze clinical data from medical and pharmacy claims and medical record reviews to determine cost, quality, and efficiency of practice patterns

Leadership – This position requires proficiency building commitment and motivation in others toward the achievement of shared goals by effectively staffing, delegating and empowering, monitoring progress, providing feedback, and taking corrective action when appropriate. Strong budget development knowledge and budget administration skills are also required.

Commitment to health equity – Must display commitment to expanding healthcare access, enhancing healthcare quality and improving health outcomes for Vermonters who experience systemic barriers that can contribute to poor health outcomes, such as identity-based discrimination or involvement in the criminal justice system.