DIRECTOR, LABORATORY

$10,000.00 Sign-On Bonus Eligible

Job Summary

The Director, Laboratory is responsible for the overall direction and management of the Division of Laboratory Services in a multiple laboratory health system. Working with Medical Director(s), facilitate a visionary leadership to integrate and develop pathology and clinical lab services that effectively provide continual, cost effective, high quality, technologically advanced laboratory services across the health system. Accountable for the planning, organization, compliance and utilization of resources and services, focused on expenses, revenues, capital assets, information technology, human resources and marketing to ensure that the long and short term objectives add value to the organization.

Essential Job Functions

• Support the execution of company strategy across business segments to optimize experience and results.
• Establish and maintain a safe working environment; assure staff comply with safety, environmental, and infection control guidelines.
• Assure proper use of safety equipment and devices; 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. Help employees understand importance of aligning goals with Excela Health mission.
• 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; 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.
• Hold regular 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 the fostering of two-way communication; diffuse sources of conflict.
• Provide opportunities for staff to actively provide input into decision making process; seek input before decision is made.
• 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; prioritize and delegate workable systems.
• Use critical thinking skills to proactively resolve key issues that are possible de-railers to productivity and engagement.
• Lead at least one process improvement initiative for department per year; participate in at least one LEAN project per year outside of department.
• Clearly articulate what is expected of individuals and provide them with the materials and equipment to do their work.
• Adhere to Premier benchmarks for own department.
• Utilize employee engagement survey results in carrying out impact plans; demonstrate employee engagement by employee satisfaction results from survey to survey.
• Establish performance measures to equitably evaluate staff using objective and job-based criteria; coach towards compliance and address variances.
• Provide regular feedback, praise, and recognition; reward 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 Excela Health’s desired culture; effectively match right person to right job.
• Provide opportunities for the education, training, and development of staff to help them reach their highest potential.
• Offer stretch assignments; create actionable development plans; encourage learning from setbacks and for future development.
• Actively support and participate in succession planning initiatives; identify high potentials and prepare them for possible future leadership opportunities within Excela Health.
• Take responsibility for own professional growth and development; attend required EHA leadership programs; network with colleagues to seek out best practices.
• Introductory, transfer and periodic appraisals are required to be completed timely adhering to performance management guidelines. All Performance Management must be completed in a designated electronic format.
• Consider financial impact of decisions; use financial concepts for decision making; 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 demonstrate continual plans to reduce variances; operate each year more effectively than one before.
• 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

• Direct the utilization of material and personnel resources in an effective and efficient manner under the direction of the Laboratory Medical Director.
• Oversee the development and monitoring of annual department operating, personnel and capital budgets
• Identify, develop and implement opportunities and new testing that optimize services and create revenue opportunities.
• Oversee supply purchases to meet contract guidelines and maximizes GPO opportunities.
• Coordinate purchases to align with departmental development.
• Manage vendor contracts and negotiations to ensure cost effective utilization of service and equipment across the health system.
• Compile and maintain statistical reports to evaluate detailed facility and departmental performance related to revenue, expenditures and resource management.
• Work to make efficient use of all resources across the health system.
• Ensure alignment of objectives across the health system and within the laboratories.
• Analyze operational processes and services to determine efficiency. Directs the development of process improvements to achieve goals.
• Lead management team in the development of strategic planning to assure appropriate staffing levels and staff satisfaction in scheduling.
• Provide leadership and support to other hospital departments to aid in delivery of services.
• Initiate the development and oversees the administration of performance management programs.
• Support continuous quality improvement by participation in health system performance improvement plans
• Assist manager in the development of department operations with focus on performance improvement/enhance across the health system.
• Enforce consistency in the application of corrective action and performance improvement.
• Develop opportunities for the advancement of staff through skill development and advanced skills training.
• Establish and monitors performance indicators for all critical operations.
• Responsible to direct the administration and management of department operations to assure compliance with regulatory agencies (ex. CLIA, HIPAA, CAP, JCAHO).
• Manage the department charge master to ensure coding and compliance and appropriate maximization of reimbursement.
• Direct and coordinate the operational protocols and practices to assure billing compliance.
• Assist managers to assure inspection readiness and orchestrate the resolution of any non-compliance such as inspection deficiencies to assure corrective action.
• Serve as a resource. Assists in the continuing education of staff in compliance issues to assure competency.
• Oversee the education and competency of staff addressing billing issues to assure quality and timely resolution.
• Represent the Laboratory and Health System in the interaction with vendors, clients and Healthcare providers.
• Market the organization's laboratory services (ex multiphasics, new clients).
• Negotiate competitive contracts.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships, strategic linkages and alliances both internal and external.
• Serve as a consultant within the Health System regarding areas related to lab services by active representation on committees.
• Facilitate coordination and integration of interdepartmental services.
• Oversee the development, operation and management of laboratory related computer systems to ensure effective utilization of resource and the maximization of integration of systems.
• Direct LIS development, interfacing with I.T. and C.I.O.
• Participate in evaluation, selection and integration of health care technologies and information management systems.
• Responsible for orchestration of system enhancement to ensure accurate interaction of various software.
• Serve as a system resource to investigate and lead the resolution of complex problems.
• Guide, direct and evaluate the utilization of system functions to maximize operation efficiencies.
• Direct the planning, development and management of departmental vision, goals and objectives.
• Collaborate with Laboratory Medical Directors to develop long term strategy for provision of services and design of a comprehensive and coordinated model for delivery of services.
• Build collaborative interaction with other health system departments to provide quality and timely delivery of services.
• Provide analysis and evaluation of effectiveness of service integration.
• Remain current in technology, managing capital acquisitions, investments and maintenance of equipment.
• Evaluate instrumentation for cost effectiveness, both in supplies and labor; under direction of senior leadership makes decision for acquisition.
• Work to enhance the organization's outreach activities and referral networks to ensure effective partnerships are formed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field and five (5) years of laboratory experience.
• Two (2) to Four (4) years supervisory/management experience in laboratory setting.
• Experience directing both Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Specialties.
• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in related field.
• Experience in Core Lab.
• Experience in a Health System or Multi-facility Health System.

License, Certification & Clearances

• 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

• Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.).
• Travel may be expected locally between Excela Health locations.

LEAN

• Actively promotes a Lean work culture by performing team member duties to encourage consistent use of LEAN principles and processes, including continually seeking work process improvements. Recognizes the necessity of taking ownership of one’s own motivation, morale, performance and professional development. Strives for behavior consistent with being committed to Excela’s missions, vision and values.

AAP/EEO

• Excela Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of Excela Health to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, non-job related disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other protected class. Excela Health will conform to the spirit as well as the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.
• Ability to perform the Essential Functions listed on the Physical Conditions and ability to perform the Essential Functions on the Working Condition chart below.
• Work Environment
• Effective March 2020 or during pandemic: goggles, face shield and mask are required according to CDC guidelines

• Physical Demands

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.