What is a nursing home doctor called? Understanding physician roles in long-term care

According to the American Medical Directors Association, the medical director is a key physician leader in a nursing facility. So, what is a nursing home doctor called, and what are their specific responsibilities regarding a resident's care and the facility's overall policies?

Quick Summary

The specific doctor overseeing an individual resident's daily care is known as the attending physician, while the physician responsible for the entire facility's medical policies and procedures is the medical director.

Key Points

• Attending Physician: The doctor who manages a specific resident's daily medical care, including check-ups, diagnoses, and prescriptions.

• Medical Director: The physician leader who oversees the entire facility's medical policies, quality of care, and regulatory compliance.

• Geriatrician: A physician with specialized training in the unique healthcare needs of older adults, who may serve as an attending physician.

• Interdisciplinary Team: A nursing home doctor is part of a larger team that includes nurses, therapists, and social workers, all collaborating on resident care.

• SNFist: A specialist physician who works primarily within skilled nursing facilities, similar to how a hospitalist works in a hospital.

The Attending Physician: Your Primary Caretaker

In a nursing home, the attending physician is the doctor primarily responsible for managing a resident's medical condition. This physician conducts regular visits, assesses health, and orders treatments and medications.

Responsibilities of the Attending Physician

The attending physician ensures continuity and quality of care. Key duties include regular visits, responding to health changes, managing medications, coordinating with specialists, communicating with families, and reviewing medical orders.

The Medical Director: A Facility-Wide Leadership Role

The medical director is a physician who oversees the facility's medical services and policies. This administrative role is required by federal regulations and focuses on overall quality of care rather than individual residents.

What the Medical Director Does

Responsibilities of the medical director include developing and implementing medical policies, overseeing quality assurance, monitoring physician performance, ensuring regulatory compliance, and providing staff education.

Specialization in Geriatric Medicine

Some attending physicians in nursing homes specialize in geriatric medicine and are called geriatricians. They have expertise in treating complex health issues in older adults.

The rise of the "SNFist"

A "SNFist" is a physician specializing in medical care exclusively within skilled nursing facilities. These doctors often have a background in internal or family medicine with a focus on geriatrics and are associated with improved resident outcomes. For more information on geriatrics careers, refer to the American Geriatrics Society.

The Broader Care Team: A Collaborative Approach

The attending physician and medical director are part of a larger multidisciplinary team that includes Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, Nurses, Therapists, and Social Workers, all working together to provide comprehensive care.

Attending Physician vs. Medical Director: A Comparison

To highlight the differences between these roles, see the comparison table below:

Feature	Attending Physician	Medical Director
Primary Focus	Direct, hands-on care for individual residents	Overall medical policy and administrative oversight of the facility
Day-to-Day Role	Sees individual patients, diagnoses conditions, and writes orders	Provides leadership, evaluates quality of care, and ensures regulatory compliance
Reporting Structure	Communicates with nurses, team, and families about specific residents	Communicates with facility administrators and staff about facility-wide medical issues
Number of Patients	Responsible for a specific number of individual residents	Responsible for the health and safety of all residents in the facility

Conclusion: A Coordinated System of Medical Care

In summary, the title of a nursing home doctor depends on their specific function. The attending physician provides direct individual care, while the medical director provides administrative leadership and oversees overall medical policies. This collaborative approach by the medical team ensures high-quality care for residents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does every resident in a nursing home have their own attending physician?

Yes, every resident is required by law to be under the care of a physician. If a resident's own family doctor does not visit the facility, the nursing home will assign a physician to oversee their care.

Can my family's doctor continue to care for them in the nursing home?

This depends on the doctor. Many primary care physicians do not have privileges to visit nursing homes, but it is possible if your doctor is willing and the facility's rules permit it. It's best to check with your doctor and the facility's administration.

How often does a nursing home doctor visit a resident?

Federal regulations typically require that a physician or other healthcare professional (like a nurse practitioner) see a resident at least once every 30 to 60 days. The frequency of visits will also be determined by the resident's individual medical needs.

What is the difference between an attending physician and a hospitalist?

An attending physician in a nursing home manages long-term care and chronic conditions. A hospitalist, by contrast, is a physician who specializes in caring for hospitalized patients and is typically not involved in long-term care.

What is a nursing home doctor called if they specialize in elderly care?

A doctor with specialized training in elderly care is called a geriatrician. These physicians have additional expertise in managing the complex health issues of older adults and may work as attending physicians in nursing homes.

Is the medical director the same as the attending physician for a resident?

No, their roles are distinct. The medical director manages facility-wide medical policies, while the attending physician is responsible for the care of an individual resident. In smaller facilities, one physician may fulfill both roles, but the responsibilities remain separate.

Who coordinates a resident's care with specialists?

The attending physician is responsible for coordinating with other specialists. They will make referrals, consult with the specialists, and integrate their recommendations into the resident's overall care plan.