Job Description

Medical Specialist

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

As a Medical Specialist, you would actively participate in diagnosing and treating patients within your specialized field and you would advise and confer with members of other disciplines so that patients may receive the benefits of an overall specialized program of care. Medical Specialists 1 serve as junior practicing specialists. Duties include:

• Obtains, reviews, updates and records individual information such as medical histories, test results, diagnoses, prescribed treatments and individual responses in the Electronic Health Record (EHR).and clarifies information with individuals as needed.
• Conducts physical examinations; orders, performs, and interprets diagnostic tests and procedures; determines and/or confirms diagnoses; and treats a variety of specialized medical conditions.
• Prescribes and/or administers treatments, medication, therapies, vaccinations and other specialized medical care to prevent or treat illness, disease or injury.
• Conducts follow-up examinations and monitors individual's condition, modifying treatment as needed.
• Collaborates with other health care professionals and disciplines to achieve treatment goals and objectives and ensure continuity of care.
• Explains and discussed procedures, test results, diagnoses and prescribed treatments with individuals, families, and caregivers; and answers questions as needed.
• Refers individuals to other health care providers based on diagnostic and treatment needs.
• Participates in discharge planning and works collaboratively with other providers and disciplines as needed to facilitate medical follow-up after discharge.
• Maintains medical documentation consistent with agency, State and Federal requirements.
• Supervises individual care activities, and prescribes, orders, and oversees the administration of treatments.
• Consults with and advises other Medical Specialists, physicians, medical providers and health care disciplines on diagnoses and treatment plans; and reviews and approves treatment recommendations.
• Provides clinical supervision, guidance and training to other medical professionals, nursing and direct care staff, and monitors the coordination and implementation of care.
• Reviews individual records to confirm diagnoses, and/or ensure that treatments are appropriate for diagnoses and that records are properly maintained.
• May assign individuals and individual care activities to other Medical Specialists, physicians and/or medical providers; approve leave and track time and attendance; and complete performance evaluations.
• Functions as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team, attends meetings, and serves on various committees and workgroups to improve individual services and outcomes.
• Assists in the development, implementation and revision of clinical policies and procedures.
• May develop, implement and/or supervise residency training programs and specialized health care and treatment education program.

Additional Requirements:

• Provide after-hours and weekend on-call medical telephone consult on a rotating basis.
• Provide coverage of primary medical care for people living in a Comprehensive Adult Transitional Home if required, when the assigned provider is not available.
• Provide medical expertise to Family Care Program and Community Mental Health Nurses as needed.
• Assist with physician coverage as needed in sister regions.

Minimum Qualifications:

Possession of a license to practice medicine in New York State (see limited license/permit option under notes) AND successful completion of a residency training program in your specialty approved by Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

In order to be eligible for appointment and to maintain employment, you cannot be listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of the Federal and/or State Medicaid and Medicare exclusion lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program). If you are appointed and subsequently listed as an excluded individual or entity on any of these lists (or excluded from any other Federal or Federally assisted program), you may be terminated from your employment.

If appointed, you may be required to become an enrolled Medicare provider; obtain and provide to your employer a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number issued by the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES); and otherwise actively participate to the degree necessary to allow for your services to be billed through Medicare and Medicaid. If you are appointed and you lose the ability to bill through Medicare and Medicaid, you may be terminated from your employment.

Loss of your license or limited permit or board certification in New York State or failure to maintain board certification may result in action to remove you from the position.

Limited license/permit option: If you are licensed in another state or by written examination in Canada, AND meet the other requirements for Medical Specialist 1 or 2, you are also eligible if you have a current limited permit to practice medicine in New York State. If appointed, you must obtain your license within one year of the date your limited permit was issued. Failure to do so will result in removal from your position.

Additional Comments:

This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS). HELPS Program titles may be filled via a non-competitive appointment. This means that you do not need to take an exam to qualify, but you do need to meet the minimum qualifications of the title.

At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), employees hired under NY HELPS are expected to have their permanent non-competitive employment status converted to permanent competitive status. You will not have to take an exam to gain permanent competitive status.

Preference will be given to OPWDD employees impacted by closures. If you are being impacted by closure, please indicate this on your resume/cover letter.

All OPWDD employees must be eligible and maintain eligibility for full and unconditional participation in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Continued employment will depend on maintaining eligibility.

If you are employed by state government you may be able to receive loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying monthly payments have been made under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer. For more information on PSLF, please visit

Employees on long term leave can bid on positions but must be able to report to work within fourteen (14) days and be able to perform the essential functions of their positions with or without reasonable accommodation (RA).

If an employee or job applicant believes that they need a reasonable accommodation, they should contact the Reasonable Accommodation Unit at (518) 486-7222 or email accommodationrequests@opwdd.ny.gov to obtain information and RA forms.

Savings programs such as the U.S. Savings Bond and the College Savings Plan.

Voluntary pre-tax savings programs such as Health Care Spending Account and the Dependent Care Advantage Account offer employees options to pay for uncovered health care expenses or dependent care expenses.

Access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) an assessment and referral service that connects employees with local service providers and support services to address their personal needs.

Life insurance and Disability insurance.

The New York State Deferred Compensation Plan is a voluntary retirement plan that offers employees the option to invest a part of their salaries for retirement on a tax-deferred basis.

Paid Holidays and Leave

Thirteen (13) paid holidays each year.

Thirteen (13) days of paid vacation leave initially.

Five (5) days paid personal leave each year.

Thirteen (13) days of paid sick leave each year (PEF/CSEA), which may carry over from year to year.

Up to three (3) days professional leave each year to participate in professional development events.

Health Care Coverage

Employees and their eligible dependents can choose from a variety of affordable health insurance programs. Employees are provided family dental and vision plans at no extra cost.

Paid Parental Leave

Paid Parental Leave allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave at full pay for each qualifying event. A qualifying event is defined as the birth of a child or placement of a child for adoption or foster care.

Retirement Program

Participate in The NYS Employees' Retirement System (ERS), which is recognized as one of the best-managed and best-funded public retirement systems in the nation.

Professional Development and Education and Training

NYS offers training programs and tuition assistance to eligible employees to maintain and increase their professional skills and prepare them for promotional opportunities. For more information, please visit

Additionally, the Public Service Workshops Program (PSWP) offers certain professional training opportunities for PEF represented and M/C designated employees that may grant continuing education credits towards maintaining professional licensure. For

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