Credit: Caitlin Koppenhaver
The healthcare industry often uses the titles “Medical Director” and “Supervising Physician” interchangeably, but they’re very different. A “medical Director” is usually a position created and required by a specific law. In contrast, a “supervising” or “collaborating” physician is one that a nurse practitioner or physician assistant is required to have on file with their respective licensing boards. And those two roles (medical director vs. supervising physician) have very distinct responsibilities. The role of a Medical Director is generally found in specific laws connected to licensed healthcare entities (e.g., skilled nursing, health care clinics, home health agency). The role of a supervising or collaborating physician is agreed upon between a physician and a PA or NP, then filed with the professional board of the NP or PA because state law requires each PA or NP to have a supervising or collaborating physician (unless for instance the NP is “autonomous practice certified and practicing nurse midwifery or primary care).
In a healthcare clinic, the Medical Director holds legal responsibility found in specific laws for various duties. This includes but is not limited to, confirming that all practitioners maintain valid licenses, and overseeing compliance with recordkeeping, billing, and adverse incident reporting regulations. By agreeing to serve as Medical Director, the physician takes on responsibility created by law. In that sense, the liability of a Medical Director tends to be greater than a that of a supervising or collaborating physician.
In contrast, the Supervising Physician in Florida is a licensed physician responsible for overseeing the clinical care provided by mid-level healthcare professionals. This includes supervising (and sometimes guiding) PAs and ARNPs to deliver care in line with the appropriate standard of care and best practices (or standing orders and P&Ps). The Supervising Physician provides advice, consultation, and oversight on medical decisions, delegates appropriate tasks, and is obligated to ensure that the work performed by mid-level providers is properly documented and compliant. While the Supervising Physician is crucial to maintaining quality and safety in healthcare delivery, their role is more focused on clinical practice, is a requirement of any licensed NP or PA and is generally narrower than the duties of a Medical Director.
Understanding the differences between these two roles is vital for Florida healthcare entities to operate compliantly.
