Position Description

The Clinical Ethicist provides consultative and educational services to patients, their families, and hospital staff on ethical concerns within the healthcare system. They perform a variety of clinical, consultative, educational and planning functions in support of the Northside Hospital Clinical Ethics Committee’s Consultation Service. All duties are performed in accordance with best practice and in concert with policies, procedures, and guidelines. Reporting to NSH Director of Patient Care Administration and Chairpersons Ethics Committee, this position will support the Ethics Committee and Consultation Service serving Northside hospitals within the system.

Independently performs ethics consultations, participates in the educational and organizational Ethics mission of the system and assists in the quality monitoring of the impact of ethics consultations. Assists with development and updating of institutional policies for compliance with health system policies, state, and federal law concerning ethical issues; works in concert with the Ethics Consultation Service leadership to meet the Joint Commission and other external accreditation agency requirements for a Clinical Ethics Consultation service.

Position Requirements

Master’s degree or doctoral degree in ethics, bioethics, philosophy or related field; PhD, JD, MSN or MS in other field with clinical ethics consultation experience. Minimum of 3 years of clinical experience in an acute care hospital in a clinical or similar role. Experience in healthcare ethics case consultation either as an individual independent ethics consultant or ethics consultation team member. Demonstrated basic competence in clinical ethics consultations; or, certificate in bioethics from accredited university. Knowledge and skills in clinical ethics, ethics case consultation methodologies, and consultation documentation. National professional certification in Healthcare Ethics Consulting Certification HEC C, or equivalent within 12 months of meeting criteria for examination. Ability to effectively navigate and document in Cerner or other similar electronic medical record. Ability to identify key documentation items within an active medical record. Competence in creation and documentation of collaborative or Ethics team progress notes in a patient’s medical record. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to work sensitively and professionally with patients and families as well as to work collaboratively with healthcare professionals across multiple disciplines. Experience familiarity with and collaboration among multi disciplinary teams. Excellent teaching abilities, both to individuals and groups in formal and informal presentation settings. Strong interpersonal skills.

PREFERRED: 

Experience as leader of a multi hospitals system Ethics Consultation Service. Experience of performing leading complex ethics case consultation of all age populations neonates to elderly at the request of multiple disciplines. Doctor of Jurisprudence JD degree desirable. APRN and or Clinical Nurse Specialist degree and experience desirable. Post graduate education in ethics desirable. National professional certification in Healthcare Ethics Consulting Certification HEC C, or equivalent, desirable. Knowledge and experience in measuring quality metrics and or outcomes for Ethics Consultations. Knowledge and experience in the utilization of personal computers and the application of word processing, spreadsheet, database and presentation programs. Experience in public speaking, presentations; participating or leading CME CNE programs.

Service Area Overview