In reference to “Medical Center Occupational Health“
The role of the corporate medical director (CMD) varies by industry. The job demands are as diverse as the industries served. Key to the role is an understanding of the effects of work on health as well as the impact of health on work. The CMD must understand the key business outputs, the culture of the workplace as well as the underlying occupational and environmental medicine concerns present. Working collaboratively in a matrixed organization, the CMD needs an innate grasp of the implied tasking and the ability to engage key stakeholders to navigate complex organizational challenges. To be
successful one must champion individual health as well as generate value for the organization.
Seemingly at odds in a world of labor and management conflict, the CMD can provide health strategy inputs that generate the rare win-win solutions for maximum business impact. In some roles the medical director will be heavily engaged in clinical production, running safety and care initiatives in other sectors the CMD will be more engaged in the management of human resources aspects like health benefits and accommodations while functioning is a supervisory roles of on and near site clinics. An understanding of health related regulatory requirements is non-negotiable. Hazard identification and a team approach to mitigation requires the traditional physician attributes for success: available, affable and able in a setting different from the clinic.
Key Requirements:
- Continuous improvement practitioner
- Ability to operate both tactically and strategically
- Forward looking approach guided by analysis of internal and external data
This just scratches the surface of what a CMD might be involved in on a regular basis for more reading check out:
Role and Value of the Corporate Medical Director 2023 JOEM article:
Role and Value of the Corporate Medical Director 2018 JOEM article and ACOEM guideline: