Leonard Hock, DO, MACOI, CMD, HMDC

Leonard R. Hock, DO, MACOI, CMD, HMDC is Chief Medical Officer for Hospice by the Sea, in Broward and Palm Beach counties. He takes pride in serving the Florida Medical Directors Association as a member and contributor to the education process. He recently served as Senior Vice President of Medical Services for Covenant Hospice serving the panhandle of Florida and southern Alabama. Prior to that Dr. Hock was in private internal medicine practice in Kansas City for more than 25 years. He had a special focus and interest in geriatric patients and end of life care, with board certifications in internal medicine, geriatrics, and hospice/palliative care. Dr. Hock is a Certified Medical Director (CMD) of long term care facilities and has been a member of AMDA (American Medical Directors Association) since l996. He has been active in the organization at both local and national levels. He was a member of the Board of Directors of AMDA, 2008-2010 and as Chairman of the National Membership Committee. In addition to direct patient care in Kansas City, Dr. Hock served as Medical Director for numerous nursing homes and assisted living facilities, hospices, and hospital based geriatric clinics. He was an officer of the Missouri Association of Long Term Care Physicians and the Kansas Medical Directors Association. Dr. Hock was recognized as a leader in the care of the frail, geriatric patient. Through this commitment he was invited to become a member of the Missouri Best Practices Committee with the Division of Aging. This private provider and state group focused on improving the standard of care for the frail and elderly in long term care facilities. During this time he was also appointed to a Kansas Medicaid Task Force focused on end-of-life issues for nursing home residents. In 2007, Dr. Hock’s interest in hospice/palliative care resulted in development a palliative case management model for acute care hospitals. This model was implemented in Research Medical Center in Kansas City in 2008, and has proven to be successful in decreasing the length of stay and acute care costs, while increasing the comfort measures for the end of life patient and support to family members. During his medical career in Kansas City, Dr. Hock was the health care reporter for the FOX 4 Television News. For thirteen years he was seen daily on “Housecalls” by thousands of viewers who watched him speak on current and pertinent health topics. He continues to be a frequent local, regional and national presenter on medical, scientific and cultural issues. Dr. Hock was born in rural Oklahoma. He served his country in Viet Nam as an Army medic. He attended the Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in 1976. He completed his internship in Dallas, TX, and his internal medicine residency in Kansas City. He continued to teach at his medical school, and has frequently returned as a Clinical Professor of Geriatrics. In June of 2009, Dr. Hock was elected a Master Fellow in the Gillum Society of Master Fellows. This membership is the highest honor awarded by the American College of Osteopathic Internists’ for outstanding contribution and service in his profession. Dr. Hock’s energy and interest is in medical direction and the improvement in patient care through active physician leadership.