Director, Cardiac Services

Job Description:

The Director for Invasive and Non-Invasive Cardiac Services reports to the Vice President, Procedural Services and is responsible for providing leadership and oversight for designated operational and management activities in the following areas within the assigned departments:  practice, operations, budget planning and management, project management, facility interfaces, as well as internal and external communications.  The Director for Invasive and Non-Invasive Cardiac Services assists in the patient care delivery system development and operations across clinical enterprise, collaborating effectively with staff, physicians and other members of the health care team. The position provides cohesive management, supervision, and leadership in the assigned areas of services, including services offered in our clinics, by closely communicating with staff, Medical Directors and Clinical Enterprise leadership, implementing the visions and directions provided by them, and advising them of plans and initiatives based on clinical experience and knowledge in services and day-to-day observation in the areas.

 Scope:  UTMB Health System. The Director for Invasive and Non-Invasive Cardiac Services has responsibilities for all service areas providing diagnostic cardiac testing.

Essential Job Functions:

• Ensures that the areas within his/her span of control are meeting and/or exceeding external benchmarks for performance.
• Implements strategies collaboratively with direct reports to achieve objectives.
• Analyzes and monitors operational performance of assigned departments.
• In collaboration with staff, department managers, directors and VP, Procedural Services, leads, designs, and implements efforts to improve operational performance.
• Provides project management leadership as needed and assigned.
• Ensures safe, high quality of care/service for areas of responsibility.
• Ensures that the principals of patient and family center care are incorporated into the operations and seeks opportunities to bring the voice of the patient into service designs.
• Enhances operational effectiveness, emphasizing cost containment without jeopardizing patient care priorities, improvement, innovation or quality of care.
• Ensures targets for improvements in patient services, productivity, and cost management are met.
• Assists in new program/service development from an operational perspective.
• Manages and provides status reports on a regular basis to the Vice President regarding projects being considered or implemented in the areas of responsibility.
• Participates in the implementation of the strategic plan for the Clinical Enterprise.
• Contributes to the establishment of a learning environment which is conducive by providing educational and research experiences to students, residents, fellows, faculty and staff.
• Provides training and staff development through ongoing in-services.
• Organizes and maintains a formal course of development in cardiac & echocardiography laboratory techniques for trainees, technicians and support staff.
• Performs procedures, as required, and assists Medical Directors, physicians, and other professional medical staff with difficult technical problems.
• Gathers data and leads the department’s quality assurance and improvement plan to achieve a defined level of quality and appropriateness of quality care services.
• Maintains knowledge of, observes, and enforces the safety measures in Environment of Care.
• Contributes to the institutional knowledge of the latest trends, practices and state-of-the-art technology as applicable to assigned areas of responsibility.
• Ensures that areas of responsibility are managed according to industry best practices, regulatory standards, Joint Commission standards, etc.
• Maintains a continuous physical presence within the service areas and responds to requests for assistance.
• Creatively identifies opportunities for improvement in all aspects of the service areas.
• Facilitates patient flow communication and problem resolution.
• Develops plans and policies for efficient workflow to improve quality and productivity.
• Develops and implements policies and programs.
• Serves as resource person and role model for staff.
• Encourages participation in all service activities.
• Develops clinical protocols for procedures in assigned areas or responsibility.
• Identifies appropriate internal controls for department; provides mechanisms to monitor and enforce compliance.
• Participates in the selection and purchase of equipment, monitors the status of   equipment repairs and preventative maintenance, and gathers data on equipment malfunction and associated down time.
• Promotes teamwork.
• Demonstrates a high level of productivity and dependability.
• Adheres to internal controls established for department.
• Serves, as requested, on task forces, work groups, or committees.
• Networks with other departments and services to further program development.
• Works with projects to a timely resolution and completes assignments according to agreed upon deadlines and updates the appropriate persons of the progress of the project(s) as appropriate.
• Works diligently with other departments on various projects as necessary or as assigned.
• Assists Medical Directors with accreditation processes.
• Assists the Medical Directors and the hospital administration in professional advancement of the services’ personnel.
• Assists the Medical Directors in maintaining quality control of the procedures.
• Assists the Medical Directors in implementation of new and advanced techniques for patient care.
• Represents the clinical practice when meeting and working with other components of UTMB.
• Accepts responsibility for personal professional development and demonstrates desire for personal growth.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

Business knowledge:

• Key knowledge of modern health care administration, principles and practices within a managed care environment and/or an academic medical center
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision and administration as applied to the management and direction of personnel within areas of accountability
• Effective managerial and administrative abilities as applied to the complex environment of an academic health center

Leadership abilities:

• Ability to implement change in a positive, sensitive and forward-thinking manner
• Strategic thinking, planning and problem-solving
• Developing goals and objectives, and establishing priorities
• Self-starter with a willingness to try new ideas
• Good judgment and ability to act decisively at the right time
• Effective problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of and ability to function in a participatory management environment which involves clinical department chairmen, division chiefs, administrators, and various levels of management.     
• Results orientation

Human Resources abilities:

• Ability to build collaborative alliances and teams
• Effective persuasion and negotiation skills
• Effective interpersonal skills
• Effective ability to ensure a high level of customer satisfaction
• Flexibility and receptiveness to new and different opinions/ideas
• Ability to create win/win solutions and relationships
• Ability to effectively deal with conflict management and the skill to anticipate and bring issues to resolution

Analytic Skills:

• Organization, planning, scheduling and project management skills
• Ability to develop and analyze options, recommend solutions to solve complex problems and issues
• Ability to identify and resolve problems with a minimum of direction

Communication Skills:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a high degree of professionalism and competence in dealing with multidisciplinary teams including physicians, administration and financial staff
• Effective verbal, written communication and group presentation skills
• Design and implementation of communication program to management team