Medical Director, Correctional Care

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Department

Job Summary

The Medical Director role includes both direct patient care as well as clinical and operational leadership of the care provided at both Downtown Detention Center and the Denver County Jail. The Medical Director ensures patients in the correctional setting receive appropriate, high quality, timely medical care that is delivered according to established medical standards and evidence-based guidelines. This role supervises other physicians and clinicians both clinically and administratively. The Medical Director has primary responsibility for recruiting new clinicians to maintain needed clinical access. This role furthermore collaborates with nursing and operational leadership to assess and maintain quality and patient safety standards.

These environments of care have a higher level of clinical acuity, behavioral health acuity, social complexity, and environmental hazard than typical ambulatory care settings. The detention centers employ a high level of security, which impacts daily working conditions, including clinical operations, safety, and availability of clinical resources. Environmental awareness, critical thinking, skillful communication, comfort with complex stakeholder management, experience overseeing quality improvement, and effective decision-making skills are essential for success in the role.

The Medical Director reports to The Chair of Family Medicine and also has support from and responsibility to the Department Chairs of Psychiatry and Dental, as well as Denver Health's Chief Medical Officer and Chief Ambulatory Officer. The Medical Director will receive eight hours of administrative time per week and will be responsible for one on-call weekend per month and one on-call night per week.

Essential Functions:

• Provide preventive care as well as therapeutic care to patients with acute and chronic illnesses. Admit to medical unit within correctional care refer to hospital for higher level of care and consult specialists as needed. Care includes the management of complex medical illnesses, and performance of procedures learned in training. (65%)
• Responsible for management of staff and the operations of health services at Denver Sheriff Health Services. Assist in the education and training of medical students, residents, interns, and others If physicians-in-training are involved in the care of patients in correctional care, provide supervision in accordance with ACGME requirements. (10%)
• Oversee quality and safety of care in correctional care, including direct participation or assigning a physician designee for all mortality reviews, regular review/revision of clinical protocols, regular review of all patient safety incidents/reports and trends, utilization management/review, correctional care and DHHA quality committees, and DHHA risk management activities. (10%)
• Serve as a primary on-site liaison, in partnership with the Senior Administrator of Health Services in Correctional Care, with the Sheriff’s Department and Department of Corrections leaders regarding all clinical care provided in correctional care at either facility. (10%)
• Work together with the Senior Health Administrator who is responsible for regulatory compliance as it relates to ACA, NCCHC accreditation and state and federal requirements to maintain compliance. Participates in committees when needed to help ensure compliance with regulatory agencies. (5%)

Education:

• Doctorate Degree Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathic Medicine from an accredited school of medicine Required

Work Experience:

• 1-3 years of outpatient clinic experience with demonstrated leadership qualities and evidence of leading initiatives at the clinic or division level, or oversight of advanced practice providers. Required and
• 1-3 years of correctional care experience preferred

Licenses:

• MD-Physician - State Medical Board Required and
• BLS-Basic Life Support (BLS/CPR) - AHA - American Heart Association or American Red Cross Required and
• CCHP-Certified Correctional Health Professional - NCCHC - National Commission on Correctional Healthcare

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Has adequate knowledge and skill of all privileged procedures as outlined in the Denver Health and Hospital Authority Department of Family Medicine Clinical Privileges documentation.
• Computer skills required.

Shift

Work Type

Salary

Benefits

At Denver Health, we take care of the people who take care of our community. Our benefits are built to support your life, your family, and your future — with generous paid time off, fully paid parental leave, exceptional retirement contributions, comprehensive health coverage, and nationally recognized well-being programs. We invest in your growth through tuition assistance, career advancement pathways, and professional development — while also offering meaningful financial advantages through loan forgiveness eligibility and employer contributions. When you join Denver Health, you’re joining a mission-driven organization that invests in you.

Here is a small list of our benefit programs:

• Paid time off starting at 28 days per year, inclusive of vacation, personal/sick, and 7 Holidays
• 100% paid parental leave up to 6 weeks
• Immediate eligibility for retirement plans with employer contribution up to 9.5%
• Generous medical, dental, vision plans in addition to employer paid disability and life insurance.
• Comprehensive well-being programs including on-site employee fitness center located on Denver Health main campus and nationally recognized RESTORE Center
• Free RTD EcoPass (public transportation)
• Childcare discount programs & exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more
• Tuition reimbursement & assistance
• Education, coaching, and professional development opportunities through the Workforce Development Center (WFDC) that support internal career growth and advancement pathways
• Professional clinical advancement program & shared governance
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer+ free student loan coaching and assistance navigating the PSLF program
• National Health Service Corps (NHCS) and Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) eligible employer

About Denver Health

Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic healthcare system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denver’s 911 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 19 school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, the Public Health Institute at Denver Health, Denver Health Medical Plan and Denver Health Foundation.

As Colorado’s primary, and essential, safety-net healthcare system, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided millions in uncompensated care for the uninsured each year.

Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer.

Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We value the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community. All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Applicants will be considered until the position is filled.