HOME HEALTH & HOSPICE DIRECTOR

JOB TITLE: Home Health and Hospice Director

DEPARTMENT: Home Health and Hospice

REPORTS TO: Chief Clinical Officer

JOB SUMMARY

The Home Health and Hospice Director has responsibility for administrative Home Health and Hospice activities to ensure quality and safe delivery of services and assumes responsibility for the overall management of the department.

The Director must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit. The individual must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interpret the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to his or her age-specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in the unit's/area's/department's policies and procedures.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

Current Wyoming licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse.

EXPERIENCE

Home Health experience required. A Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 3 years of Health Care Management experience or an ADN with a minimum of 6 years in Health Care Management experience preferred.

SKILLS

Knowledge medical/surgical nursing principles. Able to perform effectively in highly stressful situations. Must be able to write policies and procedures and interact effectively with a wide variety of people. Excellent communication skills. Able to assume a leadership role and serve as an example to other employees.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

BLS (AHA); Home Health Certification; Current clean Wyoming drivers’ license.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assume twenty-four (24) hour 7 day a week responsibility for the overall management of the department.
• Policy need identification. Develop and implement written home care policies and procedures reflecting quality and safe delivery of home care services. Communicate administrative/clinical policy changes to staff in a timely manner.
• Review administrative policies and procedures for Home Health and Hospice at least every year.
• Recommend and participate in formulation of the organization's goals, objectives and related policies.
• Oversee the Annual review and update QI Plan.
• Provide counsel to the Administration regarding needs of the community and agency.
• Plan for development of programs related to identified needs consistent with mission, vision, values and resources of the department.
• Review legal/regulatory Home Health/Hospice publications. Provide Staff/MD education related to regulatory issues.
• Community education/marketing. Participate in agency and community education programs to promote professional growth and understanding of hospice care, etc. Participate in the development of programs for the community, including the memorial service, education and fund raising to assist in the community-wide awareness of issues related to death and grief.
• Direct Home Health/Hospice Programs. Delegate appropriate responsibility to supervisory personnel according to their ability, skills and the defined responsibilities.
• Medical staff liaison and education specific to Home Health/Hospice care.
• Augment Home Care services with contractual entities as needed. Ensure appropriate qualifications, licensure and contracts renewed annually.
• Ensure that the department complies with federal, state and local rules and regulations.
• Comply with Medicare Conditions of Participation.
• Monitor methods of program administration, planning, supervision and evaluation.
• Interview, hire and orient new Home Health and Hospice staff jointly with the Clinical Manager. Participate jointly with Clinical Manager in disciplinary actions. Submit all documentation to Human Resources.
• Review job performance evaluation/competencies and submit to Nursing Administration for review. Nursing Administration will submit to Human Resources.
• Monitor statistics, productivity and financial reports.
• Monitor and oversee monthly billing processes.
• Responsible for timecard computation, mileage, and timely submission of payroll data every 2 weeks.
• Responsible for budget development and annual budget plan with input from Home Health and Hospice staff and present recommendations reflecting program priorities to Chief Clinical Officer in preparation for the budget process.
• Oversee the monitoring of the QI for infection control trends; forward data to Infection Control Committee.
• Keep Medical Director informed of pertinent issues in a timely manner.
• Assume Clinical Supervisor duties in his/her absence or delegate those duties appropriately.

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS

• Consult with staff regarding Home Health and Hospice nursing concerns and practices.
• Perform nursing functions in emergency staffing situations.
• Resolve departmental conflicts as quickly and efficiently as possible. Document all actions taken; including disciplinary and employee-related matters.
• Promote a positive work environment.
• Conduct monthly departmental staff meetings.
• Attend quarterly volunteer meetings. Attend chaplain meetings as needed.
• Participate in appropriate in-services and seminars. Encourage staff members to attend job-related seminars and in-services.