Here's how to make sure.
Gone are the days when facilities can hire just any doctor for the role of medical director, says Jacqueline Vance, RN, director of clinical affairs for the American Medical Directors Association.
"Facilities need physicians with more than just a familiarity with geriatric medicine, federal guidelines and management," Vance said in a presentation at the recent American Association of Homes & Services for the Aging conference in Nashville, TN.
Beware: If the medical director develops policies that don't jibe with accepted gerontological care standards, the facility is vulnerable to allegations of professional negligence if a resident suffers a negative outcome as a result, cautions attorney Joanne Lax with Dykema Gossett PLLC in Bloomfield Hills, MI.
Solutions: Select medical directors with expertise in geriatric medicine that is evidenced by board certification and/or a resume showing geriatrics experience and continuing education - especially in medication and behavior management for the elderly, Lax suggests.