Medical Director, Observation Unit, Department of Emergency Medicine
- Employer
- University of Virginia
- Location
- Charlottesville, VA
View more categoriesView less categories
- Administrative Jobs
- Institutional & Business Affairs, Health & Medical Services
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
The Medical Director of the Observation Unit provides medical, operational, and strategic leadership for a 10-bed hospital-based Observation Unit within UVA Health. This role is responsible for the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of high-quality, efficient, and patient-centered observation care. The Medical Director works in close partnership with Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, nursing leadership, APP leadership, case management, and hospital operations to optimize observation workflows, clinical outcomes, and throughput. This position will be appointed on the Clinician Educator track at the rank of Assistant Professor and is tenure-eligible, in accordance with School of Medicine criteria.
The Medical Director will have direct clinical and operational oversight of Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) practicing in the Observation Unit and will serve as the physician lead for observation medicine at UVA Health.
This position is open to physicians with dual board certification in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, OR board certification in Internal Medicine.
Key Responsibilities
Clinical & Medical Direction
- Serve as the Medical Director for the UVA Health Observation Unit.
- Provide clinical oversight to ensure safe, evidence-based, and efficient care delivery for observation patients.
- Establish and maintain clinical standards for observation medicine consistent with UVA Health policies and regulatory requirements.
- Provide direct patient care, including evaluation, diagnosis, and management of acute medical conditions in the observation unit
APP Leadership & Oversight
- Provide direct oversight, mentorship, and performance feedback for APPs practicing in the Observation Unit.
- Partner with departmental APP leadership to support onboarding, competency development, and professional growth.
- Promote consistent application of observation protocols and treatment pathways among APP staff.
Policy, Protocol, and Pathway Development
- Lead the development, implementation, and periodic revision of observation-specific clinical policies, protocols, and standardized treatment pathways.
- Align observation care pathways with Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Neurology and other inpatient services to ensure appropriate patient selection and disposition.
- Collaborate with Utilization Review and Case Management to ensure compliance with CMS observation criteria.
- Work with the revenue cycle team to insure we are appropriately coding and billing for observation unit visits
Quality, Safety, and Data-Driven Improvement
- Monitor and analyze observation unit performance metrics, including length of stay, conversion to inpatient admission, return visits, patient outcomes, and patient experience.
- Use data-driven insights to guide clinical decision-making, operational improvements, and resource utilization.
- Lead or participate in quality improvement initiatives related to observation care, throughput, and patient safety.
Collaboration & System Integration
- Serve as a key liaison between the Observation Unit and Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Hospital Medicine, Cardiology, Neurology, other inpatient teams, Nursing, Case Management, and Hospital Operations.
- Support UVA Health priorities related to patient flow, capacity management, and care standardization.
- Participate in institutional committees and workgroups relevant to observation medicine and hospital throughput.
Administrative & Strategic Leadership
- Contribute to the strategic planning and evolution of observation services at UVA Health.
- Assist with development of business cases, staffing models, and future growth plans for observation care.
- Support departmental and health system initiatives aligned with UVA Health’s mission of excellence in patient care, education, and innovation.
Qualifiations
Required
- MD or DO degree.
- Dual board certification in Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine, OR board certification in Internal Medicine.
- Eligible for medical staff appointment and clinical privileges at UVA Health.
- Demonstrated interest in clinical operations, quality improvement, or observation medicine.
Preferred
- Prior leadership experience in an observation unit, emergency department, hospital medicine, or similar clinical setting.
- Experience working with and supervising Advanced Practice Providers.
- Familiarity with utilization management, CMS observation regulations, and throughput metrics.
- Strong communication, leadership, and change-management skills.
Reporting Structure
- Reports to the Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine (or designee).
- Works in close collaboration with Departmental APP Leadership, Nursing Leadership, and Hospital Operations.
Application Instructions
Please visit https://apply.interfolio.com/180812 to apply and submit all required documents.
Organization
In 1819, the University of Virginia established a new model for intellectual exchange and cross-disciplinary collaboration in higher education. Two hundred years later, as a major research institution, we continue to challenge conventions, lead with ingenuity and advance knowledge for the common good.
What began as an innovative idea has become one of the nation’s leading public research universities, with over 21,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UVA also has over 3,000 full-time faculty offering more than 400 degrees.
Each of the University’s eleven schools has its own distinctive mission, working together to garner consistently high rankings—including #2 Best Value Public College (Princeton Review, 2016), #3 Public University in the Nation (U.S. News & World Report, 2016), and #3 Best Value Among Public Colleges (Kiplinger’s, 2016).
As we invest in and strengthen our research capabilities, UVA seeks new faculty ready to uncover new insights, rewrite old rules and collaborate on intellectual discoveries.
RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS THAT CROSS DISCIPLINES
As an R1 institution, the University’s research centers, consortia and laboratories are on the leading edge of discovery and technology, offering collaborative spaces for students and faculty to solve global problems.
Our professors are recognized members of major national scholarly and professional organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Our faculty’s engagement in interdisciplinary research is being facilitated by new research institutes specializing in everything from big data to brain functioning, and by cluster hires across schools.
NATIONALLY RANKED HEALTH SYSTEM
UVA is also home to a nationally renowned academic medical center and the UVA Health System, which serves a three-part mission to treat patients, conduct translational research and train medical practitioners in a wide variety of disciplines.
Established as the nation’s 10th medical school in 1825, the institution has since grown to include a 612-bed hospital and a Level I trauma center, nationally recognized cancer and heart centers, a Children’s Hospital, and primary and specialty clinics throughout Central Virginia.
The UVA Medical Center is consistently ranked among the nation’s best hospitals by the U.S. News & World Report magazine and has been named among the top 25 percent in seven specialties.
INSPIRING STUDENTS, INSPIRED TEACHING
The vast majority of UVA students come from the top 10% of their high school class, as well as from all 50 states, over 142 countries and a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. Despite their diversity, all UVA students share a love of learning and a drive to achieve.
One of the reasons students choose Virginia is our unique residential culture. At UVA, the community of students, faculty and staff personifies the Jeffersonian idea that living and learning are connected. The Academical Village was constructed to support a unique residential experience, with faculty living in the Pavilions, students occupying Lawn rooms and the world-famous Rotunda at its heart. The University’s residential culture continues to support this experience today—strengthened by students, faculty and staff rich in backgrounds, ideas and perspectives. Our unique culture is also paying dividends in innovation: UVA’s faculty have generated more than 130 patents since 2010.
Perhaps most importantly, faculty come to UVA knowing that instruction is as important as research, and they pride themselves on their many teaching awards. Our best professors look for ways to encourage, mentor and develop tomorrow’s leaders inside and outside the classroom.
LIFE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE
Living in Charlottesville you’ll find sophisticated restaurants, world-renowned wineries and breweries, cosmopolitan arts and music, friendly urban and suburban neighborhoods and a Piedmont landscape that has lured adventurous souls for centuries. No wonder the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research named Charlottesville the “happiest city in America” in 2014.
In addition to UVA and its health system, several major employers have facilities in Charlottesville, including State Farm, Northrop Grumman, the U.S. Department of Defense, GE and others. Charlottesville is also becoming a center for innovative start-up businesses. The University also actively helps spouses and partners of faculty members build their networks and pursue employment opportunities with a wide variety of area employers.
The University of Virginia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
- Telephone
- 434-985-4532
- Location
-
2420 Old Ivy
Charlottesvle
Virginia
22911-7433
United States
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