N.J. Admin. Code § 10:161B-1.4 - Qualifications and responsibilities of the medical director

(a) Opioid treatment and detoxification facilities are required under N.J.A.C. 10:161B-7 to hire a physician as medical director who is currently licensed in accordance with the laws of this State to perform the scope of services set forth in this chapter. This physician must be certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), or its successor certification board, by June 1, 2012.

1. A physician currently licensed to practice in the State of New Jersey, who has not completed ASAM certification by June 1, 2012, must have worked in a substance use disorder treatment facility a minimum of five years for at least 20 hours per week and have completed the ASAM/American Association for the Treatment of Opioid

Dependence (AATOD) clinicians training course,

http://www.aatod.org/resources/additional-education-on-opioid-dependence/providers-clinical-support-system-for-medic

(b) Although the medical director is not required to be on site on a full-time basis, the medical director is required to be on site as often as necessary in order to perform the responsibilities of the position. The facility shall establish written timeframes in which the medical director is required to be on site and, in the event of emergencies, arrive at the facility. In addition, the facility shall develop written parameters in which the medical director shall be available by telephone. Such parameters shall include the timeframes in which the medical director shall respond to the facility if paged, contacted by cellphone or by other means.

(c) The medical director shall be responsible for the direction, provision, and quality of medical services provided to clients including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Providing administrative oversight of the facility's medical services;

2. Assisting the administrator of the program in the development and maintenance of written objectives, policies, a procedure manual, an organization plan, and a quality assurance program for medical services, and review of all medical policies and procedures at least annually;

i. Such documentation shall be shared with the facility's physician, the director of nursing services and other appropriate medical staff on an ongoing basis or as revisions are made;

3. In conjunction with the administrator and the governing authority of the substance use disorder treatment program, planning and budgeting for medical services;

4. Ensuring that medical services are coordinated and integrated with other client care services to ensure continuity of care for each client;

5. Ensuring that the program complies with required medical staffing patterns noted in this chapter;

6. Assisting in the development of written job descriptions for the medical staff, reviewing of credentials, participating in hiring of medical staff, delineating privileges of medical staff, and assigning duties of the medical staff;

7. Participating in staff orientation and staff education activities when applicable;

8. Approving the content and location of emergency kits or carts, medications including controlled substances, equipment and supplies, the expiration dates of medically related time-sensitive items, the frequency with which these items are reviewed for appropriateness and completeness, and assigning qualified staff to perform these reviews;

9. Reviewing any physical examination reports and medical screening results conducted off-site of a client for the preadmissions process or for other medical concerns, in order to ensure that the client's medical needs are considered and addressed in the development of the treatment plan and throughout treatment; and

10. Providing supervision of the facility's physician(s).

Notes

N.J. Admin. Code § 10:161B-1.4

Amended by 48 N.J.R. 2791(a), effective 12/19/2016