Access Center Physician

Job Requirements

The Access Center Physician (ACP) is charged with overseeing day-to-day patient movement and system flow across UMMS as a member of the Maryland Access Center (MAC) team.

In coordination with the Critical Care Transfer Coordinators (CCTCs), Nursing Coordinators (NCs), Nursing Supervisors (NSs), and other on-duty staff of the MAC, the ACP is to provide clinical input and oversight to these operations.

The ACP will monitor system status and receive input from UMMS administration regarding system-level objectives, and will work with MAC staff, sending/receiving facilities, and transport teams to optimize patient flow across the system and achieve these system objectives.

The ACP will also play a key role in the arrangement of safe transport for patients being transferred, and will provide telehealth services, as outlined in further detail below.

II. Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

Work independently to manage complex projects involving coordination of multiple participants and teams in order to achieve strategic UMMS goals relating to patient movement. Coordinate and/or lead the on-duty staff of the MAC to ensure efficient and effective operations under limited supervision. Foster teamwork with all involved parties to ensure efficient project operations. Support and monitor ongoing quality improvement programs. Demonstrate ability to meet deadlines.

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. These are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified. The below describes the general roles of the ACP, and it should be noted that the nature or scope of these roles may change over time, and new roles may be added, as the optimal utilization of the ACP evolves.

1. “Acting Charge” for the Access Center

• Identify and fix acute issues with operations
• Work closely with and provide clinical support to the CCTCs and NCs/NSs
• Report issues to MAC administration and/or supervisor
• Work with stakeholders to identify and resolve barriers to efficient operation – and continue this work where needed by electronic communications after a given shift is over
• Regularly file post-shift reports to update MAC administration, other ACPs, and other stakeholders as to current state of operations

2. “Physician Administrator Oncall (PAO) Extender” and "Bed Czar"

• Answer questions with current policies and procedures and adjudicate administrative issues, e. g. which units/services can take which patients, isolation policies/practices, etc.
• Adjudicate disposition disputes and administrative issues with support from the UMMC PAO or hospital CMOs as needed.
• Provide clinical support and input to NCs/NSs when needed to facilitate connecting patients with units and services which can provide appropriate care

3. “System Flow Director”

• Monitor UMMS-wide status and resource needs
• Be aware of capabilities of various units/hospitals to inform choices about patient movement
• Work with NCs, CCTCs, and sending/receiving units to achieve resource smoothing and realization of UMMS-wide priorities/goals.

For Example

• Redirect transfers that can be performed by telehealth to telehealth resources,
• Avoid unnecessary or non-beneficial transfers,
• Divert patients from busier hospitals to less busy hospitals when able/appropriate,
• Coordinate understanding of repatriation status prior to transfer,
• Participate regularly in meetings regarding decanting or repatriation and facilitate these system-oriented patient movements
• Encourage movement of patients towards hospitals looking to increase certain service lines or otherwise facilitate patient movement to achieve strategic UMMS objectives
• Keep up to date with emails and other communications regarding UMMS-wide strategic goals that pertain to patient movement

4. “Telehealth Resource”

• Supplement to telehealth to enable consultation and other services from access center

5. “Transport Clinician”

• Partner with CCTCs and transport staff to support clinical side of transport operations, e. g:
• Coordinating with transport crews to ensure they receive necessary clinical information
• Determining appropriate level of care for transport
• Addressing pre-transport clinical considerations
• Prioritizing order and timing of transports, etc.

6. Provide updates to supervisors, hospital executives, and other stakeholders as requested

7. Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Experience

Education and Experience

1. Medical degree, completion of medical residency, and board certification or board eligibility are all required

2. Minimum of 3 years of full-time clinical experience in an acute-care medical specialty (residency or fellowship training can be counted towards this requirement)

3. Previous knowledge and experience in developing and leading strategic initiatives/project management is highly desirable.

4. Excellent oral, written, interpersonal, analytical, organization skills are required.

5. EPIC EMR knowledge and experience is preferred.

IV. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to identify when input from Medical Director, Physician Administrator On-call, or other senior staff member is necessary.
• Ability to manage complex, simultaneous assignments with potentially conflicting priorities and deadlines.
• Strong diplomacy, collaboration, clinical and presentation skills.
• Ability to facilitate teams and help group reach consensus on complex issues.
• Strong interpersonal skills; ability to communicate effectively with all levels of management and staff across the System.
• Oral and written communication skills, including the ability to teach technical/analytical concepts to non-technical managers and staff.
• Strong analytical skills. Ability to examine data for trends and the ability to turn data into information for action.