Medical Director

Description

The Medical Director serves as a key member of the clinical leadership team at Serve The People Community Health Center (STP), providing clinical oversight, medical leadership, and administrative support to ensure the delivery of high-quality, accessible, and comprehensive healthcare services. Under the direction of the Operations Manager, the Medical Director works collaboratively with the Chief Executive Officer, Medical Clinic Manager, and other department leaders to oversee clinical operations, support healthcare providers, implement organizational goals, and maintain compliance with applicable healthcare regulations and FQHC requirements. The Medical Director is responsible for developing, organizing, and implementing the medical components of STP's clinical programs, including Family Practice, Pediatrics, Prenatal Care, and Reproductive Health Services. This position provides guidance and mentorship to physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other clinical personnel while promoting continuous quality improvement, patient safety, and effective interdisciplinary collaboration. In addition to administrative and leadership responsibilities, the Medical Director maintains an agreed-upon patient care assignment and exercises independent clinical judgment within the scope of their licensure, credentials, and privileges. The following statements for this position reflect only some specific responsibilities and are considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified and shall not be considered a detailed description of all duties required that may be inherent in the position:  

• Provide clinical leadership and oversight of STP's medical providers, including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other clinical personnel.
• Oversee the clinical implementation and integration of healthcare services across STP's medical programs.
• Ensure clinical programs are implemented consistently with their established objectives, approved program designs, and applicable standards of care.
• Organize and prioritize clinical activities to support organizational goals, operational efficiency, and effective utilization of available resources.
• Establish and communicate clinical expectations, standards, and performance objectives for medical providers.
• Support providers through regular communication, mentoring, onboarding, clinical guidance, and problem-solving.
• Collaborate with the Medical Clinic Manager to address provider questions, documentation concerns, patient flow challenges, and care coordination needs.
• Participate in interdisciplinary meetings to integrate medical expertise with behavioral health, social services, and other patient support programs.
• Coordinate with other clinical and service leaders to improve patient access, referrals, and continuity of care.
• Work closely with the Operations Manager and Medical Clinic Manager to translate approved administrative goals into clinical workflows, responsibilities, timelines, and measurable outcomes.
• Collaborate with the Medical Clinic Manager to implement approved clinic policies, procedures, and operational improvements.
• Identify operational barriers affecting clinical services and recommend solutions to improve efficiency and patient care.
• Coordinate with department leaders to support the successful implementation of integrated healthcare services.
• Provide regular updates to the Operations Manager regarding clinical operations, provider support, program performance, and barriers requiring administrative attention.
• Proactively develop and present proposals for new clinical services, provider and support positions, and healthcare programs.
• Collaborate with the Medical Clinic Manager to implement approved clinical initiatives and ensure appropriate coordination among departments.
• Provide input into the development, revision, and implementation of clinical protocols, policies, standard procedures, program goals, and objectives.
• Support provider recruitment, onboarding, performance evaluations, credentialing, and privileging in accordance with STP's established procedures.
• Lead and oversee medical quality improvement (QI), quality assurance (QA), and patient safety initiatives.
• Partner with the Board's Quality Improvement Committee to implement, monitor, and continuously improve clinical quality procedures and performance metrics.
• Conduct quarterly clinical reviews and participate in peer review activities.
• Monitor clinical performance indicators and identify opportunities for improvement in patient outcomes and quality of care.
• Coordinate corrective action plans with the Medical Clinic Manager, quality staff, and appropriate department leaders.
• Ensure providers follow established clinical standards, protocols, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Promote a culture of accountability, continuous learning, and clinical excellence.
• Support the development and implementation of strategies to improve patient safety and reduce clinical risks.
• Maintain an agreed-upon patient care assignment while fulfilling Medical Director leadership and administrative responsibilities.
• Conduct patient assessments, physical examinations, and clinical evaluations in accordance with applicable professional standards.
• Diagnose and manage patient conditions, administer appropriate treatments, and prescribe medications within the scope of licensure and privileges.
• Order, review, and interpret laboratory results and diagnostic testing, including EKGs and echocardiograms when clinically appropriate and within the provider's qualifications and privileges.
• Monitor patient treatment plans and medical regimens, making appropriate adjustments within established clinical protocols and standards of care.
• Identify complex patient care needs and coordinate appropriate referrals or consultations with the supervising physician or other qualified specialists, as applicable.
• Provide patient and family education regarding disease prevention, treatment plans, health maintenance, and modification of health risk factors.
• Accurately and thoroughly document patient assessments, clinical findings, treatment plans, instructions, and services rendered in the patient's medical record.
• Provide initial care during medical emergencies and arrange appropriate continuing and definitive care.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals, community agencies, and families to support patient care coordination and transitions of care.
• Demonstrate the clinical knowledge and skills necessary to provide appropriate care to patients across all applicable age groups, including infants, children, adolescents, adults, and older adults.
• Ensure adherence to applicable federal, state, and local healthcare regulations and requirements governing FQHC operations.
• Maintain compliance with HIPAA and other applicable patient privacy and confidentiality requirements.
• Uphold professional medical standards, ethical obligations, and applicable licensing requirements.
• Support the implementation and maintenance of clinical policies, procedures, and standardized practices.
• Maintain appropriate clinical credentials, licenses, certifications, and privileges.
• Exercise independent clinical judgment while operating within STP's established organizational approval processes.
• Ensure clinical services are delivered in a culturally competent, respectful, and patient-centered manner.
• Perform other duties as assigned by executive leadership and administration, consistent with professional qualifications and applicable scope-of-practice requirements.

Requirements

Education, Certification, and Experience Requirements

• The following qualifications are required unless otherwise specified:
• Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from an accredited institution.
• Current, active, and unrestricted California physician license.
• Board certification in Family Medicine at the time of employment.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of direct clinical experience in a high-volume ambulatory care setting.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience supervising or providing clinical oversight to other healthcare providers.
• Active Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration.
• Appropriate clinical credentials and privileges necessary to perform assigned medical duties.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish, including the ability to understand and communicate medical terminology in both languages.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience working in a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) or community health center.
• Previous clinical leadership or medical director experience.
• Experience with clinical quality improvement, quality assurance, and patient safety programs.
• Experience overseeing multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing clinical policies, procedures, and operational improvements.

Language Requirements

• Spanish speaking, Required.