Section 330. Medical direction

A. There shall be a medical director, who shall be a physician licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine, responsible for the overall direction and management of the medical component of care. The individual shall have training and experience in the psychological and medical needs of the terminally ill.

B. The medical director shall have admitting privileges at one or more hospitals and nursing facilities that provide inpatient service to the hospice program's patients.

C. The duties and responsibilities of the medical director shall include at least the following:

1. Consulting with attending physicians regarding pain and symptom management;

2. Reviewing patient eligibility for hospice services according to the law and the hospice program's admission policies;

3. Acting as a medical resource to the IDG;

4. Coordinating with attending physicians to assure a continuum of medical care in cases of emergency or in the event the attending physician is unable to retain responsibility for the patient's care;

5. Acting as medical liaison with physicians in the community; and

6. Determining, in consultation with the patient's physician, when a patient can no longer remain at home and should be moved to a congregate living facility of the patient's choosing.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 21, Issue 23, eff. November 1, 2005.

Statutory Authority

§§ 32.1-12 and 32.1-162.5 of the Code of Virginia.