The OHSU Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) is seeking a full-time physician leader to join our team as the associate medical director to be staffed in the emergency department at Columbia Memorial Hospital. Columbia Memorial Hospital is a rural critical access emergency department with outstanding operational metrics and a great community of strong nursing staff and hospital administrative leadership. The department manages 16,000 patients annually, is 8-9 beds in size and sees high acuity as this is an isolated department in a rural location and the only trauma designated center in 60 miles. Engagement in the group is exceptional. CMH was recognized as one of the most wired critical access hospitals in the nation. This is a single practice, limited support setting and a great opportunity for teaching and practicing emergency medicine. Second year emergency medicine residents enjoy a month-long rotation/elective which receives high scores within resident education. The physician group has 10 physicians, with 6 living in the community, while 4 physicians are part-time and work at either Adventist Health Portland or Hillsboro Medical Center and CMH. There is also one daily mid-level shift. The physicians and APPs provide 34 hours of daily coverage.

 

This position reports to (supervisor): Paul Silka, MD; Associate Professor & Medical Director, Emergency Medicine

 

This position is required to reside in the Astoria coastal community. Relocation support available.

The primary objective of this leadership position is to assist the site medical director in guiding a team of clinical leaders within the Department of Emergency Medicine. This role is crucial for aligning our emergency department practices with the overarching patient care needs of the health system. Additionally, it ensures that clinical practices, education, and research are aligned with the organization and partnership strategic goals, ultimately enhancing patient care and supporting our partnership commitments.

 

Core responsibilities including work analysis for position:

 

The Associate Medical Director performs duties of an emergency physician while upholding a leadership presence to:

• Facilitate healthy communication between the Emergency Department and external entity’s
• Develop and implement policies and best practices through subcommittees
• Recruit and cultivate medical professionals who will facilitate advancement of department goals

In collaboration with the Medical Director, the Associate Medical Director:

• Assists with developing and implementing policies and best practices including oversight of emergency department representation including peer review, ultrasound, learner oversight, and wellness initiatives
• Contributes to hiring, training and continuing medical education of providers
• Perform various tasks at the direction of the Medical Director
• Physician liaison with nursing administration with focuses on nurse-initiated protocols, inventory needs, staff communication, patient feedback, staff feedback, attend charge nurse meetings and more
• Construct processes to improve department safety, flow, and collaboration
• Collaborate with the Medical Director in planning and facilitation of the monthly ED clinician meeting including presentation of monthly case reviews, communication of department objectives, process changes and evolutions. Facilitate open discussion about current department operations

Advance Practice Provider Supervisor:

• Oversight of the Advanced Practice Provider group
• Review, document and provide constructive feedback on provider charting and medical management
• Perform annual performance evaluations, monthly chart audits, and case reviews
• Interview, vet and hire nurse practitioners and physician assistants on an as needed basis. Support onboarding process. Annual review of onboarding process.
• Support OHSU DEM’s DEI mission in recruitment and retention of diverse clinicians as well as in meeting annual departmental DEI goal.
• Facilitate professional development and goal setting with great individual variation based on level of experience and professional goals
• Manage, implement and optimize the role of advance practitioners within the department, including, but not limited to, oversight of triage, consultation and daily operations
• Promote core training including FPPE, pertinent journal articles, skills labs, and educational didactics
• Provide peer review case feedback to individuals

Quality Review and Oversight of Peer Review Liaison:

• Conduct annual review of program to assess the overall quality and effectiveness. The program should align with current best practices, guidelines and standards, and include opportunities to increase clinical knowledge by presenting findings.
• Support lead peer review liaison by ensuring providers are engaged and provide timely and thorough case reviews
• Review cases with peer review liaison for system improvement opportunities and individual growth
• Ensure regular review of cases presented during faculty meeting to identify and capitalize on learning opportunities
• Collaborate with urgent care medical director to review urgent care referrals to ED to identify opportunities for improvement, optimize communication, and highlight strengths 02.2025
• Quality Improvement Collaboration: Partner with DEM ED and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) leadership to address operational issues impacting efficiency, safety, and satisfaction for staff, patients, families, and the community served.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work closely with ED medical directors, hospital leadership, nursing staff, physicians, and ancillary services to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement.
• Facilitation of Improvement Initiatives: Lead and facilitate interdisciplinary teams to address operational challenges and implement effective improvement initiatives.

Oversight of OHSU EM Resident Liaison:

• Conduct annual review of the curriculum to ensure that the rotation experience meets or exceeds GME requirements
• Ensure education liaison remains engaged in role and provides thorough rotator onboarding, provides timely and meaningful feedback to rotators to identify strengths and areas for improvement, and completes MedHub entries
• Support education liaison by ensuring providers are engaged in the education process and provide timely rotator feedback. Ensure voluntary rotator experience feedback is shared with providers and staff.
• Collect and review of monthly SoA. Submit to medical director.

• OHSU Emergency Physician staffed at Columbia Memorial Hospital
• Completion of an Administrative Fellowship or previous operational experience, including oversight of Advanced Practice Providers and learners, preferred but not required
• Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills; experience in quality improvement initiatives; understanding of healthcare operations and metrics.
• Oregon State medical license
• Reside in the Astoria coastal community
• MD or equivalent; Emergency Medicine Residency Certificate
• Knowledge, training and experience in clinical and academic Emergency Medicine
• Demonstrated ability to satisfy standards of performance delineated by law
• Ability to manage heavy workload with multiple priorities and inflexible deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Proficient in the use of computing hardware and software, including personal computing equipment, electronic medical record, word processing and spreadsheet software.
• Regular and consistent attendance at work
• Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification required; ABEM or ABOEM Board certified or board eligible
• • A qualified candidate must have a current unlimited Oregon MD (or equivalent) license prior to start date. The provider must complete the credentialing process and be approved by the OHSU Professional Board to practice as an independent practitioner in an acute care/emergency setting.  The provider must be registered with Federal Drug Enforcement Administration and be authorized to prescribe medications prior to start date. 

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.