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Job Summary
The Director of Surgical Services provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and financial management for the surgical services department(s). This role ensures the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered clinical care by leading volume forecasting, strategic planning, resource allocation, and budget monitoring. The Director fosters a culture of accountability, safety, and interdisciplinary collaboration, aligning department policies and practices with overarching healthcare facility objectives.
Major Responsibilities
Clinical Quality & Patient Safety
- Advance Clinical Excellence: Identify and implement evidence-based practices to elevate patient safety, optimize clinical outcomes, and maintain strict standards of care.
- Standardize Practices: Manage variations in clinical practice to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and cost-containment while driving transparency and accountability.
- Regulatory Compliance: Stay abreast of local, state, and federal regulatory standards, as well as industry accreditations. Direct the development and enforcement of compliant policies and procedures.
- Throughput Optimization: Oversee patient flow coordination, volume forecasting, and admission/discharge planning to ensure efficient patient throughput and a high-quality care experience.
- Care Coordination: Establish interdisciplinary care coordination guidelines that promote safety and communication across units, ensuring staff with proper clinical competencies are assigned appropriately.
- Equipment & Asset Management: Ensure all specialized surgical equipment undergoes routine, documented maintenance according to regulatory and accreditation guidelines.
Patient Experience & Service Excellence
- Drive Patient Satisfaction: Instill an organizational culture of consistent, empathetic patient interactions to position the facility as a regional healthcare leader.
- Performance Benchmarking: Leverage patient feedback data, HCAHPS scores, and internal benchmarks to identify opportunities for improvement and execute strategic patient-experience roadmaps.
- Collaborative Solutions: Partner with patient experience experts and clinical leaders to execute proven, evidence-based customer service methodologies.
Team Leadership & Talent Development
- Cultivate Engagement: Foster a mission-driven culture that prioritizes employee recognition, psychological safety, and engagement to reduce turnover.
- Performance Coaching: Identify individual and team developmental needs; provide continuous feedback, coaching, and training opportunities to elevate clinical performance.
- Talent Pipeline Management: Actively participate in attracting, onboarding, developing, and retaining top-tier surgical nursing and support talent.
Strategic Growth & Market Differentiation
- Service Line Expansion: Collaborate with the executive administration team and medical staff to optimize existing surgical specialties and develop new service offerings.
- Market Growth: Identify market trends, technological advancements, and physician engagement strategies to drive surgical volume and competitive differentiation.
Financial Management & Productivity
- Fiscal Accountability: Participate in the annual budgeting process, forecasting departmental revenue, expenses, and capital equipment needs. Actively monitor variances and implement corrective action plans.
- Labor Management: Maximize workforce productivity through precise position control, scheduling excellence, and minimal reliance on premium pay or contract labor, while maintaining optimal nurse-to-patient ratios.
- Supply Chain Efficiency: Monitor operating expenses, manage the utilization of surgical supplies, and partner with vendor management to identify and execute cost-reduction initiatives.
Education & Experience Requirements
- Education:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required.
- Master’s Degree (MSN, MHA, MBA, or related field) preferred.
- Licensure/Certification:
- Active, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice (or compact license eligible).
- Experience:
- Minimum of 1+ years of recent, dedicated experience as a Director of Surgical Services within an acute care hospital setting.
- Minimum of 3+ years of progressive leadership and clinical experience within acute care Surgical Services (OR, PACU, Sterile Processing, or Pre-Op).