Jail Health Services (JHS), a division of Public Health | Seattle & King County, is searching for a visionary and mission driven Health Officer/Medical Director to foster a culture of collaboration, teamwork, clinical excellence, and superior operational performance. 

The Health Officer/Medical Director is designated as the responsible physician by our accrediting body and has the final medical authority regarding health services and clinical decisions. They oversee clinical care provided to patients in our correctional facilities and ensure we meet high quality standards and patient trust, understanding trauma informed care and factoring equity into key decisions. They are also responsible for setting clear clinical direction; managing people and practice changes; implementing quality improvement initiatives; and ensuring the development and maintenance of clinical protocols, policies, and guidelines.  

As a member of the JHS leadership team, the Health Officer/Medical Director will collaborate with clinic leaders to execute strategies to further the division’s overarching goals. They report to the JHS Division Director and supervise various teams including the Medical Provider Team, Pharmacy Supervisors, Dentist, and Deputy Medical Director. This role requires the ability to navigate complex care cases and be a trusted advocate for patients and staff. They will also need to stay abreast of national trends and changes within the correctional health field to anticipate future needs and requirements. 

The ideal candidate will be a licensed physician with extensive experience in critical care and public health environments and have a background to address emergent issues; oversee major program change; incorporate the patient voice in practice improvements; and remain calm and confident to work effectively in times of crisis and through change management initiatives. We are looking for candidates who are passionate about serving others and making a positive impact in our community in providing high quality care and services to patients.

Reasonable and necessary moving expenses up to a maximum of $15,000 may be available if the successful candidate is relocating from outside of Washington. 

About Jail Health Services:

JHS provides needed health and social services to the incarcerated population located in the King County jails – King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) in Seattle, WA and Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) in Kent, WA.  The primary services we provide include medical, dental, mental health, social and release planning services, treatment of substance use disorders, and pharmaceutical services.  We care about the patients we serve and their health outcomes. Our division includes over 250 employees and an annual budget of over $60 million.

• Our Purpose: To assure that high-quality health and human services are available to the incarcerated population in the King County adult correctional facilities. 
• Our Vision: Opening doors to healthier, happier lives.
• Our Mission: To assess and stabilize serious health problems for the detained population of the King County Correctional Facility and the Maleng Regional Justice Center with a focus on transition from jail.

Staffed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year, JHS provides a broad range of health care to all individuals booked into the jails. For patients with serious mental health or medical conditions, special housing units (psychiatric and infirmary) along with a higher level of services and medical monitoring are provided. Since the patient population varies both in numbers as well as in acuity of health conditions, staffing is adapted and flexed to meet the constantly changing needs of the population.   

JHS staff manage the complex health needs of underserved populations, many of whom come to the facility without access to care in the community and with decompensated acute and chronic health conditions.

Commitment to Equity and Social Justice:

Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Work Schedule

The normal work week is Monday through Friday, with some evening, night, and weekend work as necessary. 

This non-represented position is designated exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not overtime eligible. 

Work Location

King County Correctional Facility, 500 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104 

Maleng Regional Justice Center, 401 4th Ave N, Kent, WA 98003

The Health Officer/Medical Directorwill partner closely with the Division Director to further division goals that are equity focused, strategic, innovative, and people centered. Responsibilities include: 

Medical Director Duties:

• Lead and oversee the ongoing evolution of clinical services: design and implement systems and co-create plans to be responsive to patient and program needs; provide direction and determine priorities which includes the assessment and assignment of various bodies of work, distribution of the work, and to determine the appropriate clinical classification to perform the work. 
• Oversee and participate in the development, implementation, and evaluation of clinical protocols, policies, and guidelines to include manuals, job aids, treatment guidelines, and service delivery models. 
• Collaborate with clinic leadership and staff to ensure smooth clinical workflow and operational performance.
• Serve as a key point of contact for case reviews and testimony as needed for various legal and risk management processes. 
• Drive improvement and change initiatives to ensure that JHS practice is aligned with current best practices and legally mandated care and services. 
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives with internal and external committees to maintain high quality care and identify areas for improvement; regularly review clinical performance of medical providers; work with clinic leaders to ensure compliance with accreditation standards; adapt to changing external conditions to identify and evaluate current state and available options; and collaborate with others to effectively manage quality improvement changes. 

Physician Duties: 

• Provide direct and indirect patient care as part of the medical provider team.
• Diagnose, manage, educate and counsel patients on a broad scope of personal health care issues; manage care provided to patients with complex medical problems. Perform minor surgical procedures, order medications and make referrals for specialty services when necessary. 
• Provide women’s health care services, including gynecologic examination and prenatal care. 
• Provide care to patients in medical emergencies, including necessary support to maintain life and stabilize conditions. 
• Document all medical evaluations, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, treatment outcomes, referrals and consultations. 
• Participate in rotating call coverage, weekend coverage, and holiday coverage
• Supervise medical providers and other clinicians.
• Train other staff on clinical and procedural topics and provide technical consultation to other providers and nursing staff.
• Establish and monitor performance goals for supervised staff and complete annual performance appraisals. 

Required Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited medical school, valid license to practice in the State of Washington, a current DEA registration and be Board eligible*/certified in Family Medicine or Emergency Medicine. *Board eligible candidates are required to obtain board certification within two years of hire.
• Must have a National Provider Identification (NPI) number prior to credentialing. 
• Must obtain Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration prior to credentialing. 
• Must possess current BLS CPR certification with AED training prior to credentialing. 
• Must possess a valid Washington State driver’s license or have the ability to travel throughout King County in a timely manner. 
• Commitment to continuing education and development, including a self-reflective practice.
• Demonstrated experience promoting and leading a collaborative, innovative, and communicative work environment that is considerate and respectful of all people. 
• Must be proficient with Microsoft Office Suite; must be comfortable with use of electronic health records and be proficient with data entry using a keyboard. 

Desired Qualifications:

• Three (3) years of increasingly responsible management or leadership level experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the job. One (1) year or more experience with direct supervision, coaching, and developing others. 
• Communicates clearly and compellingly, is broadly understandable by diverse stakeholders.
• Lived participatory community experience with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.
• Experience working with mid-level practitioners and resident physicians.
• Experience in correctional health care environment. 
• Manages complexity, readily distinguishing between relevant/unimportant data.
• Experience ensuring accountability and taking responsibility in collaboration with others.
• Knowledge of substance use disorders, including treatment of withdrawal syndromes. 
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a clinical care team and with a diverse and multi-cultural patient panel.
• Experience developing and providing training or other development practices for staff. 
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin, or Cantonese.