Physician Assistant Professor Associate Medical Director Emergency Medicine (Astoria, OR)

About Columbia Memorial Hospital
Columbia Memorial Hospital (CMH) is the fastest-growing rural hospital in Oregon proudly serving the healthcare needs of the northern Oregon partnership with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) CMH provides exceptional person-centered care as a not-for-profit independent Planetree Gold-Certified organization.

As a full-service Critical Access Hospital CMH is committed to combining clinical excellence with community-focused care. The hospital and its expanding network of clinics employ over 900 dedicated professionals including more than 100 physicians and advanced practice providers across surgical non-surgical and primary care specialties.

CMH has also been recognized nationally as one of the Most Wired Critical Access Hospitals demonstrating its leadership in healthcare technology and innovation.

Emergency Department Overview
The Columbia Memorial Hospital Emergency Department serves approximately 17000 patients annually within an 9 bed facility that functions as the regions Level III trauma-designated center. Despite its size the department handles high-acuity cases and operates with outstanding efficiency and clinical quality metrics.

The EDs single-practice model fosters strong collaboration between providers and nursing staff supported by highly engaged hospital leadership. The department operates with three 8-hour physician shifts daily (6 a.m.2 p.m. 2 p.m.9 p.m. and 9 p.m.6 a.m.) with three days each week of additional 8-hour physician coverage to accommodate volume and acuity. The staffing structure also inlcude seven days a week of 10hr. daily APP coverage. This structure ensures continuous comprehensive emergency care for the community.

The physician group includes thirteen board-certified emergency physicians. Six live locally in Astoria while others balance practice between CMH and larger regional centers such as Adventist Health Portland and Hillsboro Medical Center. Engagement teamwork and clinical excellence define the groups culture.

CMH also serves as a rotation site for second-year Emergency Medicine residents and elective third year offering a month-long rural medicine elective that consistently receives top evaluations for educational quality clinical exposure and mentorship.

Why Astoria Oregon
Astoria Oregon has been repeatedly recognized as one of the best small towns to live in by national publications. Nestled at the mouth of the Columbia River Astoria offers a rare blend of coastal beauty rich history and vibrant community life.

Residents enjoy easy access to world-class outdoor recreationincluding hiking fishing kayaking cycling beachcombing and surfingalong with a thriving arts scene historic architecture and award-winning dining. The welcoming small-town atmosphere and strong community values make Astoria an ideal place to live work and grow professionally and personally.

The primary objective of this leadership position is to assist the site medical director in guiding a team of clinical leaders within the Department of Emergency Medicine. This role is crucial for aligning our emergency department practices with the overarching patient care needs of the health system. Additionally it ensures that clinical practices education and research are aligned with the organization and partnership strategic goals ultimately enhancing patient care and supporting our partnership commitments.

Core responsibilities including work analysis for position:

The Associate Medical Director performs duties of an emergency physician while upholding a leadership presence to:

• Facilitate healthy communication between the Emergency Department and external entitys
• Develop and implement policies and best practices through subcommittees
• Recruit and cultivate medical professionals who will facilitate advancement of department goals

In collaboration with the Medical Director the Associate Medical Director:

• Assists with developing and implementing policies and best practices including oversight of emergency department representation including peer review ultrasound learner oversight and wellness initiatives
• Contributes to hiring training and continuing medical education of providers
• Perform various tasks at the direction of the Medical Director
• Physician liaison with nursing administration with focuses on nurse-initiated protocols inventory needs staff communication patient feedback staff feedback attend charge nurse meetings and more
• Construct processes to improve department safety flow and collaboration
• Collaborate with the Medical Director in planning and facilitation of the monthly ED clinician meeting including presentation of monthly case reviews communication of department objectives process changes and evolutions. Facilitate open discussion about current department operations

Advance Practice Provider Supervisor:

• Oversight of the Advanced Practice Provider group
• Review document and provide constructive feedback on provider charting and medical management
• Perform annual performance evaluations monthly chart audits and case reviews
• Interview vet and hire nurse practitioners and physician assistants on an as needed basis. Support onboarding process. Annual review of onboarding process.
• Support OHSU DEMs DEI mission in recruitment and retention of diverse clinicians as well as in meeting annual departmental DEI goal.
• Facilitate professional development and goal setting with great individual variation based on level of experience and professional goals
• Manage implement and optimize the role of advance practitioners within the department including but not limited to oversight of triage consultation and daily operations
• Promote core training including FPPE pertinent journal articles skills labs and educational didactics
• Provide peer review case feedback to individuals

Quality Review and Oversight of Peer Review Liaison:

• Conduct annual review of program to assess the overall quality and effectiveness. The program should align with current best practices guidelines and standards and include opportunities to increase clinical knowledge by presenting findings.
• Support lead peer review liaison by ensuring providers are engaged and provide timely and thorough case reviews
• Review cases with peer review liaison for system improvement opportunities and individual growth
• Ensure regular review of cases presented during faculty meeting to identify and capitalize on learning opportunities
• Collaborate with urgent care medical director to review urgent care referrals to ED to identify opportunities for improvement optimize communication and highlight strengths 02.2025
• Quality Improvement Collaboration: Partner with DEM ED and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) leadership to address operational issues impacting efficiency safety and satisfaction for staff patients families and the community served.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Work closely with ED medical directors hospital leadership nursing staff physicians and ancillary services to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement.
• Facilitation of Improvement Initiatives: Lead and facilitate interdisciplinary teams to address operational challenges and implement effective improvement initiatives.

Oversight of OHSU EM Resident Liaison:

• Conduct annual review of the curriculum to ensure that the rotation experience meets or exceeds GME requirements
• Ensure education liaison remains engaged in role and provides thorough rotator onboarding provides timely and meaningful feedback to rotators to identify strengths and areas for improvement and completes MedHub entries
• Support education liaison by ensuring providers are engaged in the education process and provide timely rotator feedback. Ensure voluntary rotator experience feedback is shared with providers and staff.
• Collect and review of monthly SoA. Submit to medical director.

• OHSU Emergency Physician staffed at Columbia Memorial Hospital
• Completion of an Administrative Fellowship or previous operational experience including oversight of Advanced Practice Providers and learners preferred but not required
• Strong communication collaboration and leadership skills; experience in quality improvement initiatives; understanding of healthcare operations and metrics.
• Oregon State medical license
• Reside in the Astoria coastal community
• MD or equivalent; Emergency Medicine Residency Certificate
• Knowledge training and experience in clinical and academic Emergency Medicine
• Demonstrated ability to satisfy standards of performance delineated by law
• Ability to manage heavy workload with multiple priorities and inflexible deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Proficient in the use of computing hardware and software including personal computing equipment electronic medical record word processing and spreadsheet software.
• Regular and consistent attendance at work
• Current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification required; ABEM or ABOEM Board certified or board eligible
• • A qualified candidate must have a current unlimited Oregon MD (or equivalent) license prior to start date. The provider must complete the credentialing process and be approved by the OHSU Professional Board to practice as an independent practitioner in an acute care/emergency setting. The provider must be registered with Federal Drug Enforcement Administration and be authorized to prescribe medications prior to start date.