Ethicist

Company Description

Henry Ford Health partners with millions of people on their health journey, across Michigan and around the world. We offer a full continuum of services from primary and preventative care to complex and specialty care, health insurance, a full suite of home health offerings, virtual care, pharmacy, eye care and other health care retail. With former Ascension southeast Michigan and Flint region locations now part of our team, Henry Ford's care is available in 13 hospitals and hundreds of ambulatory care locations. Based in Detroit, Henry Ford is one of the nation's most respected academic medical centers and is leading the Future of Health: Detroit, a $3 billion investment anchored by a reimagined Henry Ford academic healthcare campus.

Job Description

PER DIEM ETHICIST – PRIMARILY VIRTUAL

GENERAL SUMMARY

Under the direction of the System Ethics Director of Henry Ford Health, the Per Diem Ethicist provides clinical ethics consultation services on an as-needed basis, primarily through virtual coverage. The position primarily supports Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and may provide ethics consultation support to other Henry Ford Health hospitals and campuses as needed. Occasional onsite presence may be required based on clinical or departmental needs.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provides clinical ethics consultation services on an as-needed basis, primarily virtually, for Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and other Henry Ford Health hospitals and campuses as needed.
2. Responds to ethics consultation requests and collaborates with patients, families, physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and other members of the healthcare team to identify and address ethical concerns.
3. Provides timely ethics recommendations, documentation, and appropriate follow-up in accordance with the practices and standards of the Ethics Consultation Service.
4. Participates in onsite ethics consultations when the clinical circumstances require in-person involvement or as requested by the System Ethics Director.
5. Participates in Ethics Committee meetings and activities as needed and contributes clinical ethics expertise to case discussions and other ethics-related initiatives.
6. Supports ethics education for clinicians, staff, Ethics Committee members, and other healthcare professionals as requested.
7. Assists with the review and development of ethics-related policies, guidelines, educational materials, and other system ethics initiatives as needed.
8. Participates in relevant committees, workgroups, quality improvement activities, research, and scholarship as appropriate to the per diem role.
9. Performs other ethics-related duties as assigned by the System Ethics Director based on departmental and organizational needs.

Qualifications

An advanced degree in a relevant field, such as a PhD in philosophy, bioethics, or a related discipline; a Juris Doctor (JD); or a Doctor of Medicine (MD/DO) with additional graduate education, fellowship training, or equivalent experience in bioethics or clinical ethics.

Demonstrated experience in clinical ethics consultation, preferably five or more years in a healthcare setting.

Strong knowledge of clinical ethics principles, healthcare law, applicable regulations, and clinical standards of practice.

Experience working with interdisciplinary healthcare teams and hospital Ethics Committees.

Excellent communication, ethical reasoning, analytical, and conflict-resolution skills.

Ability to independently manage ethics consultation requests, exercise sound professional judgment, and handle confidential and sensitive information.

Ability to work effectively in a primarily remote environment while remaining responsive to time-sensitive clinical needs.

Preferred Qualifications

Healthcare Ethics Consultation Certification (HEC-C) from the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH).

Experience providing clinical ethics education and facilitating complex goals-of-care discussions.

Familiarity with ethics consultation documentation in Epic or a comparable electronic health record system.