Pace Program Director

Job Description
PACE Program Director
Position Summary:
Reporting to the VP of Senior Health Services, the Director of Nursing (DON) provides leadership and direction for all San Diego PACE nursing functions. The DON is accountable and responsible for planning, directing, and evaluating all activities of the nursing department, the home health department, and transitions-of-care team. The DON oversees and provides direct leadership to the Clinical Nurse Manager, the Home Health Manager, and the Transitions of Care Manager. Additionally, the Director of Nursing works closely with the Site Directors and Day Center Managers to provide guidance and ensure appropriate and efficient functioning of the PACE clinics and nursing staff. The DON will also be responsible for developing and implementing a robust onboarding and clinical training program for PACE clinicians, that includes the use of RN documentation specialists and NP coders to identify and train Providers on proper documentation and coding practices. This position will support San Diego PACE's strategic direction and goals by applying and evaluating corporate standards, policies, practices, and procedures, as well as operational and financial management activities.
Essential Functions of the Job:

• In all job activities, the Director of Nursing will comply with CMS and DHCS regulatory requirements, as well as SD PACE standards and guidelines, and policies and procedures.
• Accountable and responsible for direct oversight, including planning, directing, and evaluating all activities of the nursing department, the home health department, and transitions-of-care team.
• Provides direct supervision and leadership to the Clinical Nurse Manager, the Home Health Manager, the Transitions of Care Manager, as well as the clinical training and coding staff.
• Provides clinical guidance and support to the Admissions Manager and RN Enrollment Team as needed.
• Works closely with PACE leadership team to ensure compliance with capturing of program data, including HOS surveys, HHC scores, annual patient satisfaction surveys, and CMS universes.
• Responsible for maintaining a safe, secure and supportive work environment that provides opportunities for personal growth opportunities and empowers staff to provide excellent participant care.
• Responsible for optimizing healthcare delivery processes to create efficient patient and quality workflow that improves care and participant satisfaction.
• Facilitates cooperation and teamwork in support of SD PACE ongoing pursuit of continuous quality improvement.
• Participates in the development of policy decisions that affect patient care services.
• Responsible for integrating internal relations with the medical staff to continually improve participant satisfaction.
• Develops a quality management plan for nursing.
• Responsible for the department's systematic compliance monitoring and evaluation of:

1. Quality and appropriateness of diagnostic and treatment procedures.
2. Quality, content, and completeness of medical records.
3. Home health support and practices
4. Transitions of care, continuity of care
5. Support for quality management, clinical operations, and performance improvement activities.

• Develops standards of performance, evaluates performance, and initiates or makes recommendations for personnel actions.
• Ensures clinical competency of nurses is evaluated at least once a year.
• Introduces and demonstrates new techniques equipment and products to nursing staff, medical providers, and others.
• Oversees provision and implementation of educational programs for nurses.
• Participates in the assessment of learning needs and provides opportunities for staff development.
• Plans, coordinates, and participates in nursing in-service training.
• Oversees SD PACE immunizations to assure compliance with program requirements; provides regular reports to the PACE and/or SYH Quality Team.
• Oversees and monitors the administration and control of clinic-use medications by nursing personnel.
• Responsible and accountable for SD PACE infection control and prevention program.
• Encourages a collaborative model of patient care by providing opportunity for nursing personnel to plan with the medical staff and other disciplines for the total needs of patients.
• Serves as escalation point for participant complaints that are unresolved at lower levels.
• Keeps abreast of new technological developments in nursing and health care.
• Maintains current knowledge of trends in nursing care delivery and incorporates this knowledge into daily operation of the department of nursing.
• Seeks new ways of improving nursing services and keeps abreast of modern practices and techniques.
• Works with teams, sites, and leadership to maintain and optimize provider panels and clinic scheduling to ensure maximum efficiency.
• Works directly with PACE Medical Director to reach goals and objectives for the PACE program.
• Manages performance through coaching, counseling and disciplining, developing, coordinating and enforcing systems, policies, procedures, productivity and quality standards.
• Assists PACE leadership team to prepare annual department and capital budgets; reviews monthly financials to ensure budget compliance, monitors expenditures and department productivity to achieve.
• Sets standards for coordination of care and discharge planning with hospitals and skilled nursing facilities; understands and demonstrates respect for patient rights and utilizes established mechanisms for management of ethical issues in patient care.
• In coordination with the PACE QA Manager, ensures that clinical Home Health protocols are developed, followed, reviewed, and updated as needed and regular audits are conducted; demonstrates active participation in PACE QA processes; is involved in assessment and implementation of QA improvement plans.
• Assists with the planning and preparation of the PACE CMS audit.
• Integrates cost-effective measures into department practices.
• May provide direct clinical care services within scope of work as required as part of the Interdisciplinary Team.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

• Attends meetings and participates on committees as required.
• Acts only within the scope of his or her authority to practice.
• Demonstrates effective written and verbal communication; prepares reports and correspondence as needed or directed.
• Enhances professional growth and development through participation in educational programs, current literature, in-service meetings and workshops.
• Builds and manages the workforce based on program goals, budget considerations and staffing needs. Takes action to address performance problems. Manages a diverse workforce and a variety of work situations.
• Maintains professional affiliations, required certifications and continuing education requirements.
• Assists with projects related to program expansion and PACE facility openings.
• Performs other job-related duties as needed, assigned or requested.

Job Requirements:
Education Required (Minimum level of education):Graduate from accredited school of Nursing, BSN.
Education Preferred:Master's degree in nursing
Certifications/Licenses Required: Current CA RN and CPR certification. Preferred:Current CA NP
Experience Required (Minimum level of experience): Sufficient years of experience in nursing, with minimum of 3 years as a Nurse Manager.
Experience Preferred:
Previous experience in nursing administration with 5 years as a Nurse Manager or Director of Nursing. Experience working with elderly population preferred. Knowledge and or experience working in senior or elder care setting PACE, Nursing Home, Hospice, ADHC. Nursing competency and familiarity with care paths, interactive tools commonly used in skilled nursing home settings. Must be able to triage clinical symptoms, apply care paths and clinical interactive tools in patient evaluation and care prior to communications with physicians. Must be comfortable with acute care of frail adults, complex wound care, and cognitively impaired adults.
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Verbal and Written Skills:
Excellent oral and written communication. Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred. Medical Spanish acceptable.
Technical Knowledge and Skills:
Must possess the skills to provide care for geriatric patients, must thrive in a team environment, must possess good organizational and supervisory skills, including the ability to effectively handle difficult and unusual interpersonal situations. Meet a standardized set of competencies for the specific position description established by San Diego PACE and approved by CMS.
Competency:
Position specific competencies in Nursing and Home Health practices must be met prior to assuming participant care.
Equipment Used:
Medical equipment such as vital signs monitors, emergency cart, automated external defibrillator (AED), and patient personal assist devices. Networked computer with various applications, facsimile machine, document center, and telephone.
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:
Physical clearance for reaching, bending, stooping, crouching, kneeling and grasping; have full range of motion; ability to lift 50 Ibs; need to lift and transfer participants; TB clearance; must maintain current First Aid, CPR and BLS Certification.