Facility: Spalding Medical Center

Job Summary: The Clinical Ethicist is an active member of the ethics program at WellStar Health System performing clinical ethics consultation, ethics education and ethics policy development and review. The Ethics Program enjoys robust institutional support and is a leader in the field of clinical, organizational and research ethics. The health system is creating a fully integrated, collaborative approach to addressing ethical issues and the clinical ethicist is key to developing this initiative. The individual reports directly to the leadership team for the Ethics Program. Core Responsibilities and Essential Functions: Ethics Consultation - Responds to health system ethics consultation requests and conducts individual ethics consults and facilitates team consults. - Analyzes and improves ethics consultation methods - Works closely with the healthcare team at his or her facility to familiarize them with the consult service and to build trust - Develops and implements bedside “ethics rounding” within health system. - Provide ongoing training, education and evaluation of consult service members. - Develop and attend ethics case review meetings every other week and prepare literature for review. - Maintain case records, documentation of case consults in patient medical record and ethics consultation database. - Participate in ethics consultation service night and weekend coverage. - Assists in the development of ethics consultation services within WellStar Health System 40% Ethics Policy Development and Revision - Reviews and revises system policies and guidelines as it relates to Ethics Program. - Assures local and system compliance with accreditation and agency standards pertaining to clinical ethics, organizational and research ethics 10% Ethics Education - Planning, delivery and evaluation of ethics education for health care providers, residents, students and community. - Develops and implements education materials for ethics committee members - Helps develop innovative approaches to distance learning, including website, and online strategies to enhance and/or supplement more conventional or traditional learning styles/opportunities. - Contributes to ethics educational efforts, including on-site formal an informal presentations, regional and local guided discussions, conference planning, and the preparation of presentations, written materials, training tools and webinars. - Development and implementation of ethics curricula for the full range of clinical and non-clinical employees. - Contribute to the education and development of ethics research assistants, interns and fellows. 30% Ethics Research and Research Ethics - Conduct collaborative and independent ethics scholarship with dissemination of work through publication and presentations. - Develops, Implements and evaluates the Ethics Assessment Survey, including administration, modifications, question development and testing, validation of findings, comparisons to other health system data, and evaluation of results. 5% Ethics Programming and Evaluation - Develops and contributes to ethics programming across the health system to include Ethics Advisory Group, Ethics Liasion Network, and Ethics Grand Rounds, amongst others. - Contributes to the Evaluation of Ethics Department and in particular ethics consultation service for quality improvement - Attend local committees, e.g., mortality, PT, LOS, and others as needed to contribute an ethical perspective to ongoing work within local sites. 15% Required Minimum Education: Bachelor's Degree Required and Master's Degree in applicable field, e.g., ethics, law, social work, theology. Required Doctorate Terminal Degree in applicable field Preferred Required Minimum License(s) and Certification(s): All certifications are required upon hire unless otherwise stated. Additional License(s) and Certification(s): Required Minimum Experience: Minimum 1 year experience working in a health care setting or system; Required and prior work performing clinical ethics consultation, education and policy development Preferred and Minimum 5 years or more performing clinical ethics consultation Preferred Required Minimum Skills: Demonstrated knowledge of principles, concepts and methods involved in clinical ethics and clinical ethics consultation High Intermediate computer skills including Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Medium Must have excellent communication skills and be able to interact with all stakeholders in the health system. High Must be able to work with patients and their families in a respectful and collaborative manner. High Demonstrated experience in delivering ethics education programming. High Ability to travel to outpatient facilities within WellStar service area in various locations and work environments. High Skilled in project management and team facilitation. Medium The candidate must have strong commitment to the professionalization of clinical ethics Medium