Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Attending Physician

🎯 Role Definition

The Attending Physician provides senior-level clinical care, medical leadership, and operational oversight for inpatient and/or outpatient services. As the clinical owner for patient diagnosis, treatment planning, procedures, and continuity of care, the Attending Physician collaborates across multidisciplinary teams, mentors trainees and mid-level providers, drives quality and safety initiatives, and ensures compliance with regulatory and institutional standards. This role requires demonstrated excellence in clinical judgment, communication, documentation, and system-based practice, and it is often a cornerstone position for hospital medical staff and academic departments.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Completed residency (MD/DO) with Board Eligibility in a specialty (e.g., Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery)
Fellowship-trained physician returning to clinical attending practice
Hospitalist or senior resident transitioning to attending role

Advancement To:

Medical Director (service line or department)
Division Chief or Section Leader
Academic promotion to Associate/Full Professor (for faculty positions)
Chief Medical Officer or Clinical Operations Leader

Lateral Moves:

Hospitalist Program Director
Ambulatory Medical Director
Quality & Patient Safety Lead

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Provide direct patient care as the Attending of record: evaluate, diagnose, and manage complex medical or surgical conditions across inpatient and/or outpatient settings, document encounters in the electronic medical record, and communicate care plans with patients and families.
Lead daily multidisciplinary rounds to coordinate patient-centered care, reconcile medications, review diagnostic results, update treatment plans, and set discharge goals with nurses, therapists, pharmacists, social workers, and trainees.
Supervise, teach, and evaluate medical students, residents, and physician assistants/nurse practitioners; provide structured feedback, bedside teaching, and formal evaluations in accordance with academic and hospital policies.
Perform and supervise procedures appropriate to specialty scope (e.g., central venous access, lumbar puncture, intubation, paracentesis, biopsies, minor surgical procedures), ensuring procedural consent, documentation, and post-procedure follow-up.
Manage on-call responsibilities, triage urgent consults, respond to codes and rapid response events, and provide timely decision-making and escalation when critical interventions are required.
Authorize admissions and discharges, write clear discharge summaries, coordinate post-discharge follow-up plans, and ensure safe transitions of care to home, skilled nursing facilities, or outpatient services.
Oversee consultative services: accept, evaluate, and provide specialty recommendations for internal or external consult requests, including timely communication with referring clinicians.
Drive quality improvement and patient safety initiatives through participation in morbidity and mortality conferences, root cause analyses, protocol development, and continuous process improvement projects.
Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant documentation for clinical encounters, orders, billing, and coding; collaborate with revenue cycle and coding teams to optimize documentation-for-billing and compliance outcomes.
Participate in and lead clinical guideline and protocol development, implementing evidence-based practices, order sets, and pathways to standardize care and reduce variability.
Utilize electronic health record systems (e.g., EPIC, Cerner) for patient care workflows, order entry, results review, and secure communication; mentor staff on EHR best practices to improve efficiency and data quality.
Coordinate complex case management with insurance providers, social work, and case managers to secure authorizations, arrange durable medical equipment, and address social determinants that impact care and disposition.
Lead or contribute to hospital committees (e.g., credentialing, utilization review, peer review, ethics) to support governance, clinical standards, and quality metrics.
Engage in population health activities by reviewing performance metrics, participating in readmission reduction programs, and applying risk stratification to target interventions for high-risk patient cohorts.
Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, hospital policies, infection control standards, and credentialing requirements; maintain current medical licensure and privileges.
Interpret and act on diagnostic studies (labs, imaging, pathology) in a timely fashion; consult subspecialists as appropriate and integrate results into comprehensive care plans.
Participate in clinical research, registries, or quality data collection as required; contribute to publications, presentations, or grant activities consistent with departmental goals.
Provide culturally competent, patient-centered communication and shared decision-making, obtaining informed consent for treatments and procedures and discussing prognosis and goals of care.
Mentor and coach junior clinicians and allied health professionals, helping to develop clinical competence, professional behavior, and career advancement plans.
Maintain competence in advanced life support certifications (e.g., ACLS, PALS) and ensure team readiness for acute resuscitation scenarios.
Evaluate performance metrics for clinical quality, patient satisfaction (HCAHPS), throughput, length of stay, and resource utilization; collaborate on initiatives to improve measurable outcomes.

Secondary Functions

Support continuous medical education by delivering lectures, attending grand rounds, and promoting evidence-based learning opportunities for staff.
Participate in hospital disaster preparedness and emergency planning, including surge staffing and clinical triage protocols.
Provide telemedicine and remote consultation services when applicable; maintain competencies in virtual patient assessment and documentation.
Assist in recruitment, credentialing, and performance review of clinical staff; provide input on hiring decisions and onboarding processes.
Collaborate with population health, case management, and community health partners to address social needs, preventive care, and chronic disease management across care settings.
Contribute to peer review and performance improvement committees, analyzing clinical data to identify trends and implement corrective actions.
Serve as a clinical resource for institutional policy development related to clinical operations, patient safety, and quality standards.
Participate in billing reviews and denials management to ensure appropriate reimbursement and documentation remediation when needed.
Facilitate multidisciplinary care conferences for complex cases including palliative care, transplant evaluation, and long-term care planning.
Lead patient safety huddles, debriefs after critical events, and continuous training to maintain high-reliability practices across clinical teams.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Board Certified or Board Eligible in relevant specialty (Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, etc.), with active state medical license and DEA registration.
Proficiency with major electronic health record platforms (EPIC, Cerner, Allscripts) for order entry, documentation, and clinical decision support.
Demonstrated ability to perform specialty-specific procedures (e.g., central lines, intubation, lumbar puncture, biopsies) with documented competence and supervision experience.
Advanced life support certifications (ACLS required; PALS/ATLS as appropriate for specialty).
Strong diagnostic reasoning and evidence-based medicine skills, including interpretation of labs, imaging, and pathology reports.
Clinical documentation and medical coding knowledge to support accurate billing practices (CPT/ICD familiarity).
Experience leading quality improvement projects using methodologies such as PDSA, Lean, or Six Sigma and interpreting clinical quality metrics.
Exposure to population health management tools, risk stratification platforms, and value-based care initiatives (e.g., readmission reduction, bundles).
Telemedicine competency, including virtual exam skills, remote documentation, and telehealth regulatory considerations.
Research literacy: ability to participate in clinical research, interpret study data, and contribute to publications or registry reporting.

Soft Skills

Strong clinical leadership and team-building skills to lead multidisciplinary teams and mentor trainees effectively.
Exceptional interpersonal and patient communication skills, including delivering difficult news and facilitating shared decision-making.
High emotional intelligence, cultural competence, and ability to provide compassionate, patient-centered care across diverse populations.
Excellent time management, prioritization, and crisis decision-making under pressure, particularly in acute care settings.
Conflict resolution and negotiation skills to manage interdisciplinary disagreements and align care goals.
Teaching and coaching aptitude for medical education, with experience in curriculum delivery and learner assessment.
Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills to synthesize complex clinical information and drive systems improvements.
Adaptability and resiliency in fast-paced clinical environments, including flexibility for shift work and on-call duties.
Attention to detail and commitment to regulatory compliance, credentialing, and peer review processes.
Effective written communication for clear, concise documentation, care plans, and inter-professional handoffs.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) from an accredited medical school.
Completion of an accredited residency program in the relevant specialty.
Active state medical license and unrestricted hospital privileges.

Preferred Education:

Fellowship training in a subspecialty (e.g., Critical Care, Cardiology, Oncology, Gastroenterology) when applicable to the position.
Additional training or certification in medical education, quality improvement, hospital leadership, or healthcare administration (e.g., MHA, MPH, Lean/Six Sigma certifications).

Relevant Fields of Study:

Internal Medicine
Family Medicine
Pediatrics
General Surgery / Surgical Specialties
Emergency Medicine
Subspecialty Fellowship Fields (as relevant)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–10+ years post-residency depending on level (most positions require 1–3 years of independent clinical experience; leadership roles commonly require 5+ years).

Preferred:

2–5 years of independent attending-level practice in the specialty for routine clinical positions.
Prior supervisory, teaching, or leadership experience for positions with clinical oversight or academic appointment.
Demonstrated track record of quality improvement initiatives, committee participation, and measurable performance improvements.