If Webster's Dictionary listed a definition of a long-term care facility medical director, it might include a picture of Dr. Timothy Malloy, CMD, of Bellevue, Neb. As medical director of the Hillcrest Health and Rehabilitation facility, Dr. Malloy is committed to quality care as well as staff and resident satisfaction. He also works to ensure that interdisciplinary teams are educated and families are well informed. Now, he is being recognized as Medical Director of the Year, a new award presented by the American Medical Directors Association. Dr. Malloy was honored last month at AMDA's 30th Annual Symposium in Hollywood, Fla. He is one of 53 medical directors who were considered for the award, which recognizes individual contributions as well as accomplishments in staff education, clinical and team leadership, and community involvement. “We knew he was worthy of this honor,” said Hillcrest's executive administrator, Cindy Klein, who nominated Dr. Malloy. He is “loved and respected by practitioners, staff, residents, and family members alike.” She added that Dr. Malloy “brings a true commitment to geriatrics and to teaching nurses and others. This type of dedication to teaching is rare in my experience.” Not only does Dr. Malloy attend monthly Quality Improvement Committee meetings, Ms. Klein said, he is an active member of the group and provides a lot of “clinical and common sense feedback.” In fact, she said, “his efforts have made a positive difference in our Quality Indicators and how our facility operates.” Dr. Malloy has implemented, among other things, a protocol that has reduced facility-wide urinary tract infections by more than 30%. He also has implemented a mandatory cognitive assessment tool for all residents to identify delirium early in the course of resident stays. From the staff's perspective, Dr. Malloy goes out of his way to get to know every member and often is seen introducing himself to a new employee, Ms. Klein said. Such efforts can be challenging, Dr. Malloy said, especially considering staff turnover in the long-term care setting. Nevertheless, Dr. Malloy remains committed to not only knowing the staff but ensuring that everyone—especially nurses—has the training and education they need. “The more you put into this, the more you get back in terms of quality care and staff and resident satisfaction,” he said. Motivating a new generation of long-term care physicians—and AMDA members—is another passion of Dr. Malloy's. “I love bringing students into this environment,” he said. “Initially, they're intimidated, but they come away with a realization that this setting can be fun and intellectually stimulating.” Dr. Malloy has precepted 340 family medicine residents in nursing home medicine, with 121 making the career choice to provide care to nursing facility residents throughout Nebraska. Many also have become medical directors. Dr. Malloy said the national award hopefully will help his colleagues and him to correct the misconception people have about long-term care. “Our residents generally are very content, and our staff and practitioners are tremendously dedicated and compassionate. People need to know this.” Dr. Malloy said the award has made him think about the progress that has been made in terms of “improving long-term care quality. The progress has been amazing, and I'm honored to have been a part of it. And I'm humbled to be recognized by my peers for my work in this setting.” Dr. Malloy said he was “dumbfounded” and “shocked” to find out he was named Medical Director of the Year. “I never would have thought that this award would go to anybody from Nebraska,” he said. “It is the ultimate validation of what I do.” Joanne Kaldy is a freelance writer in Hagerstown, Md., and a communications consultant for AMDA and other organizations. In naming Dr. Timothy Malloy Medical Director of the Year, the panel of judges considered his clinical and team leadership, efforts to educate staff, and community involvement. Dr. Malloy also: ▸ Initiated a falls prevention program that stresses avoidance of orthostatic hypotension. ▸ Led a Pain Management Committee and developed a pain assessment and treatment protocol that resulted in significant improvement of the facility's pain Quality Indicators. ▸ Initiated a family consultation team involving the facility social workers, community psychologists, nurses, and administration to target family psychological needs in the nursing facility setting. ▸ Developed a tool that monitors for effects of atypical antipsychotics to replace obsolete tools. The results of a research project involving this tool are pending publication. Dr. Malloy also speaks at facility family nights and for community groups such as the area Alzheimer's Association, and leads a formulary committee to help his facility in quality resource management.