Hyperbaric Medical Director

MEDICAL DIRECTOR JOB SUMMARY

The Hyperbaric Medical Director is ultimately responsible for the quality of hyperbaric services provided and is accountable to the Board of Directors, the Hyperbaric Medicine Service shareholders, <facility> medical staff and administration for the activities of the hyperbaric center. The Hyperbaric Medical Director is responsible for:

1. Supervision:
1. Assists in the day-to-day supervision, and coordination of the hyperbaric staff.
2. Assists in the proper day-to-day operations of the hyperbaric facility.
3. Assists the Clinical Nurse Manager or Director in the evaluation and selection of new clinical personnel.
4. Supervision of the Clinical Nurse Manager or Director
2. Administration:
1. Develops policies and procedures directing the use and availability of hyperbaric services for therapy.
2. Supports the establishment of an ongoing and effective safety program.
3. Supports compliance with quality assurance standards.
4. Supports the establishment of a program for clinical peer review.
5. Ensures that sufficient administrative support is available.
6. Designates a qualified physician staff member to act in his/her absence
3. Clinical:
1. Oversees the quality of medical services rendered in the hyperbaric department and ensures it meets
   current standards of practice.
2. Develops and oversees adherence of patient care protocols of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
3. Consults, examines, selects and manages patients who could benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
4. Keeps complete and accurate records pertaining to the indications, rationale, and progress
   of the patient treatments.
5. Is immediately available to manage patient emergencies, which may occur before, during,
   or after treatments, while the patient is in the hyperbaric medicine department.
6. Maintains communication with referring medical providers.
7. Conducts appropriate patient discharge, follow-up, and referrals.
8. Supports and participates in hyperbaric call/after hours coverage.
4. Education:
1. Assist in the continuing education of all levels of the hyperbaric staff.
2. Other duties and responsibilities as deemed appropriate for safe and proper clinical operations.
3. Together with the Clinical Nurse Manager or Director, assists in the development of an on-going program for orientation and in-service training for all levels of hyperbaric personnel.
4. Supports opportunities for staff members to attain the proper amount of continuing education in order to maintain a current professional license.

RECOMMENDED TRAINING GUIDELINES

Hyperbaric Medical Director

1. Must first meet the entry-level qualifications, training, and practice guidelines as delineated in this document
   for Clinical Hyperbaric Medicine Physician.
2. Should be a physician in good standing in hyperbaric medicine, and supports UHMS clinical indications
   and protocols through a high standard of practice.
3. Should have demonstrated leadership, management, teaching, and administrative abilities.
4. Should have a working understanding of the codes and regulations that govern the operation of a hyperbaric medicine facility.
5. Should have a working understanding of the operation and safety associated with the classes of hyperbaric chamber(s) used in the facility.
6. Should support the pursuit of scholarly activities and debate in the field of hyperbaric medicine.

Qualifications and Training

1. Must be M.D. or D.O. graduate holding a valid diploma from an accredited medical school.
2. Must be Board Certified or Board Eligible in a recognized medical or surgical specialty.
3. Must have successfully completed at least a 40-credit hour, UHMS-approved Hyperbaric Medicine Introductory Course.[1] (Fellowship-trained hyperbaric medicine physicians meet this requirement if they hold a certificate of training from an organized, academically based clinical program with a continuous training period of more than 11 months.)

Practice Guidelines

1. Must first meet the Qualifications and Training as stated above.
2. Must maintain an unrestricted license to practice medicine in the state where the physician delivers hyperbaric medicine therapy. (Certain government agencies may be exempt.)
3. Must be specifically privileged to practice clinical hyperbaric medicine in the sponsoring medical institution(s) under the process delineated by the institution's privileging or credentials committee.
4. Should be allowed to work unsupervised by his/her medical director only after a period of preceptorship where the physician has demonstrated a consistent competence in standard clinical hyperbaric medicine treatments, procedures, and safety.

Reappointment

1. Reappointment as a hyperbaric medicine consultant will be based on unbiased objective results of care according to the institution’s existing quality assurance mechanisms. 
2. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have maintained competence by showing evidence that they have provided inpatient and/or outpatient hyperbaric consultative and case management services for the minimum number of patients, as established by that institution.
3. For reappointment, hyperbaric medicine physicians must complete a minimum of 12 credit hours of Physician category 1 AMA/AOA PRA CME in hyperbaric-related topics for each (12) months of hyperbaric practice or (24) credit hours in (2) years. If local requirements or the requirements of certification agencies exceed these standards, the CME requirements of the physician's certification and privileging agencies should be followed.