Acute Care Director

Description

PURPOSE STATEMENT

The Acute Care Director is responsible for championing and ensuring the provision of high quality, safe, effective and efficient nursing care and support services to patients in the following specialties/departments: Medical/Surgical, Telemetry, ICU, and Intensive Care Unit. This Director will provide clinical leadership and role model respectful, constructive, interdisciplinary, and collaborative communications, critical thinking, and problem-solving. The Director oversees the business development, operational and financial function and collaborates to support opportunities to enhance quality, improve the patient experience, increase patient throughput, decrease costs and increase the contribution margin.  The Director ensures that the overall operation is in compliance with policies and all relevant Federal, State, and local regulatory agencies, and TJC Standards. The Director appoints and supervises department managers, manages employee performance, assures accountability and competency, and facilitates employee success through developing employee goals, and educational and professional development. He/she will set goals and objectives for practice standards in collaboration with department managers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS  

• Systematically evaluates the quality and effectiveness of nursing practice and nursing services in units assigned, analyzing appropriate internal and external data and information to identify opportunities in collaboration with stakeholders for improving services and patient outcomes.
• Promotes integrating evidence-based knowledge into the identification of best practice in the delivery of nursing and respiratory care to appropriate populations.
• Promotes and monitors regulatory agency standards and customer service expectations for the practice of all aspects of patient care within all departments.
• Ensures policies are reviewed, revised, and implemented for all departments’ operations.  Ensures that policies and procedures are current and updated per WMMC guidelines to comply with CMS regulations and Joint Commission standards.
• Prepare, monitor and adjust annual department operating and capital budget in conjunction with unit managers and administration to ensure cost effective utilization of personnel, equipment and supplies while maintaining quality patient care.  Monitors approved budgets on a monthly basis, explaining variances.
• Effectively intercede with family and patients and resolve concerns related to the delivery of health care services.
• Experience writing and implementing strategic, business, and performance improvement plans.
• Collaborate with medical staff regarding patient care needs, policy and procedures, and operational functions.
• Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
• Support the Medical Center’s Mission/Vision/Philosophy positively.
• Maintain the responsibility for the coordination of patient care within the Nursing departments and assists with specialty procedures in other Clinical Departments.
• Demonstrate knowledge of regulating bodies.
• Knowledgeable of and consistently enforces established Nursing, Human Resources, and Hospital policies/procedures.
• Demonstrate positive customer service relations.
• Routinely participate in Quality Improvement projects and encourage the departments to continuously improve.
• Maintain regular and predictable attendance.
• Perform other essential duties as assigned.

Requirements

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS 

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Graduate of an accredited school of professional nursing.
• Currently licensed to practice as a professional Registered Nurse (RN) in the state of Missouri.
• BSN required or enrolled in BSN program within 6 months of hire to position. BSN Program required to be completed within twenty-four (24) months after enrollment.
• Excellent written/oral communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Clinical knowledge and critical thinking skills are sufficient for effective supervision of nursing and respiratory staff and patient care.
• Must possess experience of working in Acute Care (Med/Surgical, Telemetry, and/or ICU) for a minimum of 5 years with 3-5 years supervisory and/or management experience.
• Current American Heart Association (AHA) BLS required.
• Current American Heart Association (AHA) ACLS required.
• Current American Heart Association (AHA) PALS required or obtained within 6 months of hire.
• Must be self-motivated and have the ability to work within the established policies, procedures and practices prescribed by the hospital/clinic.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Must be able to sit and stand, intermittent 8 to 12 hours a day.
• Must be able to use standard office equipment, including the telephone and computer keyboard.
• Continuously works under pressure of near 100% accuracy while meeting inflexible deadlines.
• Continuously utilizes manual/bi-manual dexterity, near vision, speech, and hearing.
• Frequently stands, walks, sits and utilizes eye/hand coordination and color definition.
• Occasionally reaches above shoulder, regularly required to lift and/or carry up to 40 lbs.
• Occasionally walks on uneven surfaces.