Lead a Practice of Certified Hospice Physicians
Demonstrate your hospice is dedicated to quality care with formally certified hospice physicians.
While medical licensure is a demonstration of a minimum required competency for a physician to practice, certification is further evidence of expertise and commitment within a specialty or subspecialty of medicine. Voluntary certification represents a higher level of ability, increased efficiency and effectiveness, and commitment to improving patient outcomes. Keep your hospice physicians up-to-date on regulatory and legal requirements and the highest standards of hospice clinical care and ensure you are leading the most effective hospice staff.
The next certification cycle opens on January 7, 2020. Sign up for our mailing list to learn more about application.
Why all hospice physicians should be certified
Every eligible hospice physician can achieve the Hospice Medical Director Certification (HMDC). The HMDC demonstrates to patients and families the dedication and expertise of your physicians and ensures they are knowledgeable about new standards in the field. HMDCB's certification program sets a standard of competence in all aspects of hospice practice and administration, including:
- patient and family care, education, and advocacy
- regulatory expertise including comprehensive knowledge of hospice regulation and reimbursement and Medicare Hospice Benefit compliance
- knowledge of ethics and law related to informed consent, decision-making capacity, and many others
- systems-based practice ensuring high-quality patient care including access allied health professionals, quality-of-care measures, patient safety standards, and medication management
- leadership and communication skills
- medical knowledge, such as pain assessment and treatment, interventional symptom management, drug abuse, and all aspects and settings of hospice and palliative care
- and much more.
Certify physicians around their working schedules
Hospice medical directors and other hospice physicians are a diverse group of professionals, and they follow equally diverse career paths to hospice care. HMDCB's program has many pathways to certification, including one specially designed for hospice physicians already in the workforce, enabling prospective certificants the ability to use practice hours doing hospice-related activities.
"The HMDCB certification is a great way to show excellence and commitment to the care of hospice patients and their families. It also provides hospice organizations with a way to distinguish themselves as leaders by encouraging their physicians and medical directors to become certified."
David Wensel DO FAAHPM HMDC
Medical Director, Midland Care Connection, Inc., Topeka, KS
Learn more about the HMDC.
Sign up to receive more information from HMDCB about certification and take the next step on the road to further developing your hospice.