Medical Director

Medical Director. There must be an identified NMD. The NMD must be credentialed by the facility for treatment of neonatal patients and have their responsibilities and authority defined in a job description. The NMD must maintain a current status of successful completion of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) or a department-approved equivalent course. The NMD is responsible for the provision of neonatal care services and must: 1. Examine qualifications of medical staff and advanced practice providers requesting privileges to participate in neonatal/infant care and make recommendations to the appropriate committee for such privileges. 2. Ensure neonatal medical staff and advanced practice provider competencies in managing neonatal emergencies, complications, and resuscitation techniques; 3. Monitor neonatal patient care from transport, to admission, stabilization, and operative intervention(s), as applicable, through discharge, and review variances in care through the neonatal Performance Improvement (PI) Plan; 4. Participate in ongoing neonatal staff and team-based education and training in the care of the neonatal patient; 5. Oversee the inter-facility neonatal transport as appropriate; 6. Collaborate with the Neonatal Program Manager (NPM), maternal teams, consulting physicians, and nursing leaders and units providing neonatal care to include developing, implementing, or revising: a. written policies, procedures, and guidelines for neonatal care that are implemented and monitored for variances; b. the Neonatal PI Plan, specific reviews, and data initiatives; c. criteria for transfer, consultation, or higher-level of care; and d. medical staff, advanced practice providers, and personnel competencies, education, and training; 7. Participate as a clinically active and practicing physician in neonatal care at the facility where medical director services are provided; 8. Ensure that the Neonatal PI Plan is specific to neonatal/infant care, is ongoing, data driven, and outcome based; 9. Frequently lead the neonatal PI meetings with the NPM and participate in the Perinatal Multidisciplinary Committee and other neonatal meetings, as appropriate; 10. Maintain active staff privileges as defined in the facility's medical staff bylaws; and 11. Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with other NMDs of designated neonatal facilities within the applicable region. 12. Collaborate with the transport team to develop, revise, and implement written policies, procedures, and guidelines, for neonatal care that are implemented and monitored for variances; 13. Participate in ongoing transport staff competencies, education, and training; 14. Review and evaluate transports from initial activation of the transport team through delivery of patient, resources, quality of patient care provided, and patient outcomes; and 15. Integrate review findings into the overall Neonatal PI Plan and process.