Medical Director, Carle Direct Transfer Services

The Physician leader for Carle Direct Transfer Services will be pivotal in leading system level strategy and medical oversight of the transfer and admission of patients into and out of the Carle Health system from a multitude of access points, through processes that enable in-system patient quality and continuity of care, volume growth, and competitive advantage. This role involves championing process improvement, efficiency, fostering collaboration across clinical and operational teams, and acting as a key liaison with medical staff and hospital leadership across the system, as well as the regions that Carle Health serves.

• Acts as the strategic physician leader for Carle Direct Transfer Services and developing, implementing, and tracking progress on key growth strategies for Carle Health. Collaborates with Carle Health ACMOs and physician leaders to promote physician collaboration, expectations, and behavior standards related to patient flow across the system. Meets with new physicians who will be supporting Carle Direct as on-call physicians to orient them to processes, expectations, review service area maps and unique aspects of the regions that Carle Health serves, i.e. critical access hospitals, rural health, etc.
• Identifies physician engagement needs and promotes physician involvement at multiple levels in collaboration with hospital and system-level leadership.
• Directs the development and implementation of transfer/patient flow algorithms and works with hospital and medical staff leadership to revise and improve policies and medical leadership chain of command processes across the system as they relate to patient transfer and patient flow algorithms.
• Addresses physician issues when necessary to support appropriate clinical care, and involves the leadership chain of command as needed. Review and facilitate quality assessments for improvement opportunities.
• Participates in system level throughput huddles and provides triage direction and support as needed for the transfer patient wait list.
• Serves as a physician leader liaison to non-Carle hospitals in regions supported by Carle Health, acting as a contact for other physician leaders to discuss transfer center quality concerns, request case reviews, provide feedback, maintain positive relationships, etc. Participates in the execution of transfer agreements with non-Carle entities.
• Presents data, strategic materials, and initiative updates at physician leadership, executive, division, and key stakeholder meetings.
• Represents the region on Carle Health committees and work groups supporting tertiary designations, clinical practices, quality review processes, strategic planning, operations/throughput, and compliance. Maintains knowledge of all clinical services within the Carle Health System and expertise in clinical services available at regional and quaternary health systems to facilitate patient care when needed.
• Maintains a current understanding of the capabilities of Carle Health emergency services vehicles and helicopters, and the clinical capability of the respective staff. Works with the Carle Direct staff to share that information at regular intervals with referring institutions and their staff so they are aware of the clinical care and services which can be provided. Stays informed and up to date on EMTALA policies and other regulatory and laws that relate to patient transfers.
• Represents Carle Direct Transfer Services and associated regions at medical leadership meetings to translate the mission of Carle Direct and throughput goals into actionable steps with the medical staff.

Qualifications:

• 5 years of clinical practice with progressive medical leadership experience.
• Must be Board Certified in their clinical practice area and be able to obtain an IL medical license.
• Experience working with multiple specialties.
• Knowledge of medical staff policies and bylaws.
• Knowledge of Risk and Legal/Compliance practices and quality review processes.
• Inpatient and/or ED clinical experience. Knowledge of inpatient, ambulatory, and emergency department services.
• Experience in the region, whether as a visiting specialist, providing oversight and/or training of prehospital services, work at a critical access hospital or knowledge of the unique needs of rural Illinois.
• Tenured leader with change management experience who can demonstrate emotional intelligence, excellent communication skills, team building capability, problem solving, and the ability to analyze data and develop appropriate insights. A successful candidate will be approachable and empathetic yet direct and stand firm when encountering conflict.

Globally connected, innovative and culturally rich, Champaign-Urbana is centrally located to Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis and is home to one of the world's great public research universities - the Big Ten University of Illinois. With ease of transportation, excellent schools and affordable housing options, our community features the friendliness and advantages of a smaller town while offering the dining, arts, sports, and entertainment options found in a much larger city.