Dialysis Program Manager Registered Nurse - RN

Fresenius Medical Care•New Haven, CT

About The Position

Manages the provision of quality patient care in an independent home therapy program while maintaining cost-effective clinical operations in accordance with legal, compliance, and regulatory requirements. Ensures continuity of care and patient and staff safety, and directs the interdisciplinary team to maintain high standards of care. Collaborates with Business Unit management to grow assigned Home Therapies programs. The role manages the tactical execution of short- and long-term objectives, including costs, operational methods, program growth, quality, and staffing. It leads, coaches, and develops direct reports; manages Home Therapies program operations; implements quality goals and action plans; and contributes to area strategic plans. The position also supports facility maintenance and environmental integrity, promotes safety, advises staff, and works with internal departments and external customers to resolve issues. The manager directs patient care for Home Therapies patients from admission through discharge. Responsibilities include overseeing patient assessment, care plans, treatment documentation, schedules, medications, lab-result communication, patient and family education, transplant education, home therapy training, physician orders, and emergency procedures. The role manages Home Therapies personnel, including hiring, training, performance management, scheduling, and staff development, and ensures staff competency with home dialysis equipment and related procedures. The position requires travel between assigned facilities and other regional locations, with possible travel to regional, Business Unit, and Corporate meetings. The work includes desk and computer work and interaction with patients, facility staff, and physicians in a health care facility environment. Exposure to infectious or contagious diseases or materials may occur. Employees must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment, and reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited School of Nursing (R.N.).
Current appropriate state licensure.
Minimum of one year of nursing experience.
Minimum of six months of dialysis nursing experience.
Demonstrated management skills to lead dialysis personnel and ensure delivery of maximum-quality patient care.
Competence in operating all Home Therapies-related equipment.
Availability as a full-time employee and ability to provide on-call coverage when necessary.
Demonstrated leadership competencies, including communication, customer service, continuous quality improvement, relationship development, results orientation, team building, employee motivation, performance management, and decision making.
Successfully complete CPR certification and maintain it as required.
Must take the Ishihara Color Blindness test as a condition of employment; failing the test does not preclude employment.

Nice To Haves

Advanced education in nursing preferred.
Three or more years of supervisory or project/program management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Manage the tactical execution of short- and long-term objectives, coordinating activities and maintaining responsibility for costs, operational methods, growth, quality, and staffing.
Lead, coach, and develop direct reports; partner with Human Resources on employee matters and manage hiring, performance reviews, disciplinary actions, and terminations.
Manage operations of one or more Home Therapies programs and coordinate departmental activities, staffing, operational methods, and results.
Implement Home Therapies program and area quality goals and action plans, and contribute to strategic plans aligned with regional, divisional, and company objectives.
Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, legal requirements, and government regulations; recommend policy or procedure changes through company protocols as needed.
Direct and manage patient care for Home Therapies patients from admission through discharge, ensuring safe and effective care consistent with facility standards.
Oversee identification and evaluation of Home Therapies candidates, including assessment of patients' home environments when needed.
Organize health care team meetings and ensure timely completion of patient care plans and resolution of patient problems.
Maintain efficient patient schedules and oversee nursing assessments, ongoing evaluations, and documentation of patient care needs and treatment responses.
Ensure appropriate interventions for changes in patient adequacy status and troubleshooting of peritoneal and access-flow issues per physician orders; communicate patient-related issues to physicians.
Develop action plans for missed treatments in collaboration with the Medical Director; administer and document medications as prescribed and ensure controlled substances are recorded as required by law.
Ensure alert, panic, and abnormal lab results are communicated to appropriate physicians and that physician orders are accurately entered into the Medical Information System.
Ensure patient and family education on ESRD, quality measures, transplant options, treatment modalities, access care, laboratory values, medications, fluid, and treatment adherence.
Oversee coordination of transplant education and assist with the transplant workup process.
Oversee safe and effective training of patients and their families or significant others in the operation and maintenance of home therapy equipment.
Serve as a resource for patient concerns and questions, and maintain a process for tracking patient circumstances, hospitalizations, and significant changes in care status.
Manage delivery of the Treatment Options Program when a Kidney Care Advocate is absent.
Maintain skill in emergency procedures and initiate CPR and emergency measures in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest when a patient is in the medical office.
Manage assigned Home Therapies licensed personnel, direct and indirect patient care staff, and technical staff when assigned.
Ensure new-hire orientation, mandatory in-services, applicable ICD-9 code training, annual in-service documentation, and ongoing staff training are completed.
Conduct regular staff meetings, communicate area, regional, and corporate initiatives and policies, and ensure staff are trained in patient care, risk management, and customer service.
Collaborate with staff to establish personal goals and provide professional growth and training opportunities to maintain clinical competence.
Create, maintain, and communicate employee schedules according to facility needs; collaborate with appropriate departments to promote Home Therapies growth.
Document disciplinary conferences according to personnel policies and consult the Director of Operations regarding disciplinary decisions.
Participate in employee recognition and satisfaction programs.
Create and implement a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Process Improvement Team that involves staff in problem solving.
Ensure Home Therapies personnel are competent in operating and troubleshooting home dialysis equipment, including resolving equipment issues with patients by telephone.
Direct staff and patients in preventive maintenance of home therapy equipment, including water systems and analyses as appropriate.
Maintain facility maintenance and environmental integrity and promote a culture of safety.
Provide technical guidance, participate in meetings with internal and external representatives, assist with assigned projects, and perform other duties as assigned.
Provide on-call coverage when necessary.