DIRECTOR - RESPIRATORY SERVICES - Excela Health : Job Details

Description

Under the direction of the VP Patient Care Services and in conjunction with the Pulmonologists, the Director of Respiratory Therapy assures strategic growth planning, service development, personnel management, and appropriate resource allocation to provide and enhance patient care. Accountability for directing the day-to-day operations of Respiratory Therapy Department and Pulmonary Function Lab. In addition, the Director of Respiratory Therapy is charged with developing and implementing additional services to drive volume and growth into a department committed to providing quality patient programs, consistent with the mission of Independence Health System.

Essential Job Functions

• Establish and maintain a safe working environment by assuring staff complies with safety, environmental, and infection control guidelines.

• Assure proper use of safety equipment and devices and hold individuals accountable if non-compliant.

• Assure completion of staff competencies including mandatory education and programs relative to job specific criteria.

• Promptly investigate and resolve Significant Occurrence Reports and incident reports as necessary.

• Align strategic compass with department goals, write compelling SMART goals in support of the organization's mission, vision, and values, and help employees understand importance of aligning goals with Independence Health System.

• Equitably and consistently apply and practice policies and procedures for all staff.

• Practice and encourage staff readiness in compliance with agency regulations and guidelines.

• Improve HCAP scores according to fiscal year targets and demonstrate year after year improvement in service to internal and external customers.

• Respond to client service recovery issues within required time frame and to the satisfaction of the customer.

• Lead department meetings, assuring off shifts and satellite offices receive timely and accurate information.

• Maintain a daily meeting board for purpose of displaying problem solving activity.

• Build and strengthen relations through two-way communication and diffuse sources of conflict.

• Provide opportunities for staff to actively provide input into decision making process.

• Encourage commitment of quality work throughout areas of responsibility.

• Understand and effectively deploy the LEAN tools to streamline work processes, eliminating waste and redundancy while improving productivity.

• Act on most urgent tasks and prioritize and delegate workable systems.

• Use critical thinking skills to proactively resolve key issues that are possible troubles to productivity and engagement.

• Lead process improvement initiatives for department and participate in LEAN projects outside of department.

• Clearly articulate expectations of individuals and provide the materials and equipment to be successful.

• Responsible for compliance, staffing, recognition, talent management, training and development within department.

• Utilize employee engagement survey results in carrying out impact plans.

• Establish performance measures to equitably evaluate staff using objective and job-based criteria.

• Provide regular feedback, praise, and recognition by rewarding accomplishments and results appropriately.

• Hold staff accountable for consistently modeling the behavioral standards.

• Identify, evaluate, and select internal and external talent, assuring an acceptable fit with the Independence Health System desired culture.

• Provide opportunities for the education, training, and development of staff to help reach their highest potential.

• Create actionable development plans and encourage learning from setbacks for future development.

• Actively support and participate in succession planning initiatives by identifying high potentials and prepare them for possible future leadership opportunities within Independence Health System.

• Take responsibility for own professional growth and development by attending required EHA leadership programs and network with colleagues to seek out best practices.

• Complete required appraisals in a timely manner adhering to performance management guidelines.

• Manage inventory, waste, occupancy, expenses, revenue, and budgeting.

• Consider financial impact of decisions, use financial concepts for decision making, and monitor financial performance.

• Develop and manage department budget at or below budget expectations and consistent with adjusted volume variations.

• Identify and implement revenue enhancement opportunities.

• Seek opportunities to reduce operating costs while balancing quality resources.

• Submit timely variance reports that display knowledge of expenses and demonstrates continual plans to reduce variances.

• Stretch capital resources by extending life of existing assets.

• Coordinate the selection of vendors through established internal procurement procedures in an effort to drive down supplier costs while maintaining quality standards.

Specialty Job Functions

• Fiscal Management: Direct the utilization of material and personnel resources in an effective and efficient manner

• Oversees the development and monitoring of annual department operating, personnel and capital budget

• Identifies, develops and implements opportunities and new services and procedures that optimize services and create revenue opportunities

• Manages finances to balance quality and costs

• Manages vendor contracts and negotiations to ensure cost effective utilization of service and equipment

• Compiles and maintains statistical reports to evaluate detailed facility and departmental performance related to revenue, expenditures and resource management

• Build cooperative relationships that promote collaboration.

• Operations Development and Management: Work to make efficient use of all resources across the health system

• Collaborates with management team, Pulmonary Medical Directors and VP of Patient Care Services to establish effective staffing patterns

• Coordinates the establishment of operational enhancements to maximize staff skills and abilities

• Lead management team in the development of strategic planning to assure appropriate staffing levels and staff satisfaction in scheduling

• Analyzes operational processes and services to determine efficiency. Directs the development of process improvements to achieve goals

• Provides leadership and support to key Hospital-based committees

• Delegates authority to operational management team and ensures alignment of objectives across the health system and within the RT departments

• Performance Management: Initiates the development and oversees the administration of performance management programs

• Administers policies and procedures consistently and fairly across health system

• Supports continuous quality improvement by participation in health systems performance improvement plans

• Rewards positive performance an celebrates accomplishments

• Enforces consistency in the application of corrective action and performance improvement

• Develops opportunities for the advancement of staff through skill development and advanced skills training

• Establishes and monitors performance indicators for all critical operations. Takes effective action to improve performance

• Compliance: Responsible to direct the administration and management of department operations to assure compliance with regulatory agencies (ex: CLIA, HIPPA, CAP, JCAHO, DOH)

• Manages the department charge master to ensure coding an compliance and appropriate maximization of reimbursement for services provided

• Directs and coordinates the operational protocols and practices to assure billing compliance

• Orchestrates the resolution of any non-compliance such as inspection deficiencies to assure corrective action

• Directs the implementation of processes to assure inspection readiness

• Serves as a resource. Assists in the continuing education of staff in compliance issues to assure competency

• Oversee the timely resolution of billing errors

• Professional Liaison: Represents the Respiratory Care Department and Health System in the interaction with vendors, clients and Healthcare providers

• Markets the organization's Respiratory Care Services Department

• Negotiates competitive contracts

• Serves as a role model to the department and hospital by demonstrating a commitment to high ethical standards and the integration of customer services in all settings

• Serves as a consultant within the health System regarding areas related to Respiratory Care Services by active representation on committee

• Facilitates coordination and integration of interdepartmental services

• Develops and maintains productive relationships, strategic linkages and alliances both internal and external

• Facilitates communication between VP of Patient Care Services and Pulmonary Medical Director

• Department Development: Directs the planning, development and management of departmental vision, goals and objectives

• Collaborates with Pulmonary Medical Director to develop long term strategy for provision of service and design of a comprehensive model for delivery of services

• Builds collaboration of staff to work toward common goals

• Provides analysis and evaluation of effectiveness of service integration

• Remains current in technology, managing capital acquisitions, investments and maintenance of equipment

• Evaluates instrumentation and equipment for cost effectiveness, both in supplies and labor: under the direction of Senior leadership who makes decisions for acquisition

• Works to enhance the organizations outreach activities and referral networks to ensure effective partnerships are formed

• Other

• Maintains OSHA recordable at below the Independence Health System yearly threshold for the respiratory department.

• Continuous Improvement Board updated displaying quality improvement in the department. Active

• Participates in Highmark Quality and Quality Initiatives to promote Perfect Patient Card.

• Turnover goal set by the system.

• Maintains supply cost at budget or better than budget.

• Provides mentoring support for Supervisor/Senior Therapist/RRT/CRT as requested

• Operates standard office equipment.

• Facilities inspections by licensing agencies.

• Participates in courses, seminars, workshops and meetings to maintain professional growth.

• Maintains professional network and organization memberships in professional organizations.

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in related field and three (3) to five (5) years of respiratory care experience and ability to demonstrate knowledge in Respiratory Care & equipment, department operations and regulatory agency compliance.

• Completion of an accredited Respiratory Therapy Program.

• Two (2) to Four (4) years supervisory/management experience in Respiratory Care.

• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.

• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience.

• Thorough knowledge of hospital business policies and practices. Familiarity with information systems capabilities, interactions and procedures.

• Knowledge of basic Office Equipment such as copier, fax machine, etc.

• Proficiency in the use of Excel Spreadsheets, PowerPoint, and various software programs.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Outlook.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters in health or business-related field

License, Certification & Clearances

• Current licensure to practice in the State of Pennsylvania required.

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program.

• Act 34-PA Criminal Record Check from the PA State Police system.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position has direct supervisory responsibilities and serves as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.

• Management responsibilities include hiring, coaching, skills development, recognition and rewards, staff productivity and performance management.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Incumbents will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.).

• Travel may be expected locally between Independence Health locations.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Independence Health and its affiliated companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. It is their policy to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other classification protected by law. Independence Health and its affiliated companies will comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Disclaimer

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Moreover, duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Work Environment

Effective March 2020 or during pandemic: goggles, face shield and mask are required according to CDC guidelines

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights ( notice from the Department of Labor.