Director, Emergency Services-(UPMC Harrisburg)

UPMC•Harrisburg, PA

About The Position

The Director, Emergency Services, reporting to the Chief Nursing Officer, collaborates with nursing and physician leadership to coordinate, implement, and monitor clinical operations and patient care delivery for the emergency department. The position oversees the availability of appropriate resources to meet patient care needs and is accountable for quality patient care, identifying and analyzing clinical and system processes, and redefining operations to improve patient outcomes. Key areas of focus include capacity management and throughput, reducing boarding hours, and improving the patient experience. The role oversees the Emergency Department and other Emergency Services, including the Clinical Decision Unit and Observation Unit, within a medium-to-large hospital, typically one with more than 20,000 patient visits per year. The Director supports staff development, professional practice, quality and safety improvement, budget oversight, shared governance, and operational planning aligned with Emergency Services’ strategic initiatives.

Requirements

BSN required at the time of hire or transfer into the position.
A master’s degree in nursing or a related health care field is required at hire or transfer, or the employee must enroll in a program within one year of hire or transfer and complete it within three years of enrollment. Related fields may include public health, information technology, or administration.
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible health care experience, including supervision and leadership.
Knowledge of clinical practice and human resource management.
Analytical ability to evaluate staff, address and improve clinical and programmatic issues, and devise solutions to complex problems.
Leadership ability to develop staff, establish and maintain professional nursing practice performance standards in a national context, and comply with administrative requirements.
Superior interpersonal and communication skills to build relationships with patients, families, staff, physicians, hospital personnel, and senior management through written and verbal communication.
Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS).
Basic Life Support (BLS) or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
NIH Stroke Scale (NIH).
Registered Nurse (RN) licensure.
Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting, with renewal.
Act 33 clearance, with renewal.
Act 34 clearance, with renewal.
Act 73 FBI Clearance, with renewal.
Current licensure in the state where the facility is located, or a multistate license issued by a participating Nursing Licensure Compact state if the facility is in an NLC state. Employees with an out-of-state NLC license who change residency to the facility’s state must apply for licensure there within 60 days.

Responsibilities

Build productive internal and external relationships through mentoring, positive communication, trust, transparency, and clear expectations; foster an inclusive environment that values diversity and integrates team members.
Identify and adopt best practices, eliminate duplication, and maximize efficiency.
Promote patient-centered decisions within the framework of Relationship Based Care and support continuous improvement in patient, caregiver, and physician satisfaction.
Participate in professional organizations to support personal growth and collaborative relationships locally and regionally.
Direct program teams to work within the scope of practice defined by their clinical discipline and job description.
Develop and evaluate clinical systems and processes that support comprehensive patient and family care across the continuum.
Assist with annual budget development and oversee annual budgeted man-hours, expenses, and capital budgets for responsible departments.
Work with clinical and administrative services to identify opportunities to improve quality, safety, and cost of care and meet established goals.
Analyze clinical variance trends, direct program activities that support organizational operational imperatives, and implement clinical practice changes as appropriate.
Support evidence-based practice and quality improvement initiatives; identify risk assessment strategies and lead risk-reduction strategies for responsible areas.
Establish and achieve professional standards for quality, legal, and ethical practice in accordance with regulatory guidelines, policies, and procedures.
Support departmental and personal development; coach and advise direct reports and professional staff on professional development plans.
Share improvement learnings across departments and campus as applicable; support shared governance, staff participation in decision-making, the Professional Practice Council, and peer accountability.
Create a shared vision and use critical thinking, financial and quality data, and relevant knowledge to oversee development of the Emergency Services operational plan.
Analyze clinical areas’ strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats; share findings with the Vice President of Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer to support patient care and nursing strategic planning for both campuses.
Address complex, high-risk problems and translate them into opportunities and challenges; adapt leadership style to the situation and individual or group development stage.
Promote contributions at all levels and work with cross-functional teams to effect change.
Lead program development that supports and advances UPMC Emergency Services strategic initiatives.