What the work involves
A medical director of a long-term care facility helps set resident care policies and coordinates medical care in the facility. The time and scope depend on the facility and the written agreement.
Who the work may fit
This can fit physicians with long-term care or geriatric experience who can commit regular time. Ask about the facility's size, staffing and expectations.
Questions before you say yes
- What written duties and hours are expected?
- How many residents and attending physicians does the facility have?
- How will I work with nursing leadership and the administrator?
- Is the agreement an employment or a contractor arrangement?
- What liability coverage applies to the role?
Your first step
Ask for the draft medical director agreement and a written description of duties, expected time and reporting lines.
What can go wrong
Accepting a title without a clear scope. The regulation assigns responsibility to the designated physician, so unclear duties can become your problem.
How to get started, step by step
Turn the idea into a specific next action. These are preparation steps, not approval to perform a role.
- Ask for the written agreement and a list of expected duties.
- Ask how many hours per month the facility expects.
- Review the facility's resident care policies and recent leadership structure.
- Confirm liability coverage for administrative duties.
- Agree on pay, term and termination in writing.
Where to look and who to ask
Use search terms and contacts that fit this work. Check the actual source and current requirements; these suggestions are not verified openings or Saile inventory.
- Ask nursing facility administrators and long-term care operators about medical director openings.
- Ask your specialty society or state medical association for guidance on medical director agreements.
- Have an attorney review the agreement.
Scheduling and payment realities
Expect recurring committee meetings and policy reviews. Ask for the calendar before you agree.
Keep gross pay and taxes separate
For federal employment taxes, the IRS considers control and the relationship, not only the contract label. Self-employed individuals generally pay income and self-employment tax and may need estimated payments. Keep payment and expense records and ask a tax professional about your actual arrangement; this guide does not calculate take-home pay.
IRS: Independent contractor or employee
IRS: Self-employed individuals tax center
Before you say yes: a final checklist
Do not let an unanswered question become an assumed term.
- Are duties written down?
- Do hours match my availability?
- Is coverage confirmed?
- Is the agreement reviewed by counsel?
- Does my employer allow it?
Work types to compare
Telemedicine
Compare visit type, patient states, schedule and clinical support.
Locum tenens
Compare assignment duties, onboarding, travel and written terms.
Per diem / PRN
Compare minimum commitments, offered shifts and cancellation rules.
Consulting / project work
Compare eligibility, deliverables, conflicts and review deadlines.
Frequently asked questions
How much does this work pay?
This guide does not quote a market rate or promise earnings. Compare a verified written offer, including all required work and expenses.
Does Saile have this work available now?
Check the Saile app for current openings. This educational guide does not claim that a particular role or project is available.
Can I do this alongside my main job?
Check outside-work approval, conflicts, confidentiality and scheduling obligations before accepting.
What should I get in writing?
The work, deliverables, schedule, payment terms, coverage responsibilities, cancellation terms and the steps required before starting.
What should I do next?
Request a sample task without unnecessary patient information, a review policy and an escalation path. Read confidentiality and liability terms before taking access to records.
What the primary sources say
The federal long-term care administration rule says the facility must designate a physician to serve as medical director. It says the medical director is responsible for implementation of resident care policies and the coordination of medical care in the facility. Ask the facility how those two duties translate into hours, meetings and reporting in your agreement, and who else shares the work.