Jail Health Services (JHS) Medical Director
Jail Health Services (JHS) Medical Director
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Job Description
Summary
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 divisions 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 $15000 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 highquality 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 nations 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 proequity 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 antiracist and accountable to Black Indigenous and People of Color communities.
To learn more please visit Schedule
The normal work week is Monday through Friday with some evening night and weekend work as necessary.
This nonrepresented 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 98003Job Duties
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 cocreate 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 womens 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.
Experience Qualifications Knowledge Skills
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 drivers license or have the ability to travel throughout King County in a timely manner.
- Commitment to continuing education and development including a selfreflective 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 midlevel 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 multicultural patient panel.
- Experience developing and providing training or other development practices for staff.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish Arabic Mandarin or Cantonese.
Supplemental Information
Forbes named King County as one of Washington States best employers.
Together with leadership and our employees were changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a differenceCome join the teamdedicated to serving one of the nations best places to live work and play.
Guided by our True North we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting support and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply including Native American and people of color immigrants refugees women LGBTQ people living with disabilities and veterans.King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race color religion national origin sex (including gender identity sexual orientation and pregnancy) age genetic information disability veteran status or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions including but not limited to recruitment hiring selection for training promotion transfer demotion layoff termination rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
Who May Apply:
The vacancy is open to all qualified applicants. Highly competitive candidates will be invited to participate in a series of interviews which are tentatively planned on the following schedule: *Information Sessions* if requested to learn more about the position.
- The week of June 29th 2025 (virtual) tentatively
- The week of July 14th 2025 (virtual) tentatively
Those who successful pass the interviews will be invited to an inperson meet and greet with staff that is tentatively scheduled for the week of July 28th 2025with the successful candidate identified and scheduled to start with JHS in late September/October or early November.Application Instructions:
The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:- NeoGov Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
- Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
- Cover Letter speaking to why you have interest in working with vulnerable and marginalized populations related to this body of work.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state see my resume or see my personnel file are considered incomplete and will not be accepted. Please do not copy and paste your entire job history as your answers to the supplemental questions as these will be considered incomplete.Necessary Special Requirements:
- The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions interviewing and testing. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience.
- The selected candidate must be able to pass a thorough background investigationbut findings may not necessarily disqualify an applicant for employment.
- For more information on our selection process please refer to For tips on interviewing please visit
- Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
- Public Health relies on office automation (Microsoft Office) and webbased enabled tools therefore candidates must be proficient and comfortable with computer use to perform functions associated with ongoing work.
- Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing their mandatory trainings on time and obtaining required immunizations.
- Regular and reliable attendance effective communication skills and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
- When public health responds to an emergency and in accordance with relevant CBA language and/or KC policy and procedures we may assign you duties outside your regular job description. This may involve responding at any time including nights and weekends with possible deployment to locations other than the department. If you need a disability accommodation in the application or testing process please call the contact number listed on the job announcement.
Additional Information:
Jail Health Services follows and maintains federal and state requirements standards including but not limited to Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards which apply to all public and private institutions that house adult or juvenile offenders. PREA standards preclude the department from hiring or promoting anyone who has engaged in or been convicted of any conduct which would violate PREA standards related to sexual assault including:
- Sexual abuse in a prison jail lockup community confinement facility juvenile facility or other institution.
- Convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force overt or implied threats of force or coercion or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse; or
- Has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described above.
Additionally PREA standards require that the department consider any incidents of sexual harassment involving an inmate or detainee in determining whether or not to hire or promote anyone. The above is in compliance with PREA and its implementing regulations 28 C.F.R. Part 115 Subpart A Section 115.17 Hiring and Promotion Decisions.
Union Affiliation
This position is not represented by a collective bargaining agreement.
Contact
For more information about the application process please contact Alexis Owens atRequired Experience:
Director
Employment Type
Full Time
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