Director of Perinatal Services

Overview

The Director of Perinatal Services is accountable for the strategic planning, direction, organization and control of the inpatient Women’s Services Department and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).  This position is responsible for the direction of clinical delivery of care and meeting fiscal goals for such specialized areas as Labor Delivery, Couplet Care, GYN & Well Women’s Care, Perinatal Clinic (California Sweet Success; Diabetes in Pregnancy Program), Lactation and Childbirth Education, and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  This position will direct and oversee the entire Perinatal Service Line by aligning operations and performance improvement activities across multiple entities, special emphasis will be placed on integrating policies, standards of care, staff/management recruitment and training, and capital equipment purchases.  The Director, Perinatal Services, will be accountable at a strategic level for planning, developing, or creating linkages with existing services and new services and programs, and assisting with the marketing of the service line strategies in a highly competitive marketplace.  The position serves as a liaison between Medical Staff and Administration and is accountable to the Country, State and Federal agencies as well as Joint Commission for maintaining compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and standards, and contributing quality patient outcomes while consistently maintaining the highest level of customer service.

Responsibilities

The Director of Perinatal Services is responsible for operational oversight and direction of the Women’s Services Department and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of AHMC Anaheim Regional Medical Center (“ARMC”) through program development, operational improvement, financial performance and organizational change.

• Administrative operations for all Perinatal Service Areas.
• Establish Women’s Service Line Leadership Plan for the development of Women’s screening, health & wellness programs.
• Implement Best Practices & Standardized Procedures in all service areas.
• Integrate Women’s Services department’s services with ARMC’s primary functions.
• Coordinate and integrate services within Women’s Services and with other departments.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures that guide and support the provision of services.
• Recommend a sufficient number of qualified and competent individuals to provide care.
• Determine the qualifications and competence of staff and who are not licensed practitioners.
• Continuously assess and improve performance of the Women’s Services Department.
• Maintain appropriate quality control programs throughout women’s service line.
• Provide for orientation, in-service training, and continuing education of all staff in the Women’s Services department.
• Participate in selecting outside sources for needed services.

ARMC has a CCS approved Community Level NICU.  The responsibilities of the Community NICU director are clearly delineated in the California Children’s Services Manual of Procedures Provider Standards issued 1/1/99.  These responsibilities include, at a minimum, personnel, fiscal and material management and coordination of the quality improvement program for the NICU.

As the Director of Perinatal Services, the Director is responsible for directing the clinical nursing practice in the NICU; coordination and assessment of critical care educational development and clinical competency of the nursing staff and for ensuring continued neonatal critical care nursing competency through educational programs for both t he newly hired and experienced nursing staff; consultation with staff on complex neonatal critical care nursing issues; oversight of comprehensive parent and/or primary caretaker education activities; and ensuring the implementation of a coordinated and effective discharge planning program. 

In addition, this position has responsibility for operational oversight and direction of the following:

• Neonatal Transport Program with a written neonatal transport plan that includes a summary of the Neonatal Transport Training Program; annual evaluation and documentation of competency in neonatal transport of the neonatal transport team members; requirement of a minimum number of preceptored neonatal transports for new neonatal team members, and maintenance of written records of each neonatal transport completed which much be available for review by the CCS program staff.
• High Risk Infant Follow-up Program which ensures that all high risk infants discharged from the NICU are followed in a program that conforms with the CCS high risk infant eligibility criteria and components of services.
• As a part of the Regional Cooperation Agreement, works with CHOC’s NICU team for joint education and training of perinatal health professions; joint development of guidelines for consultation by perinatal, neonatal and other specialty disciplines as necessary; joint development of guidelines for maternal and neonatal patient referral and transport to and from each facility; joint identification, development and review of protocols, policies and procedures related to the care of the high risk obstetric and neonatal patient; and joint review of outcome date, according to CCS requirements. This is accomplished in the Morbidity and Mortality Conferences that are held at least quarterly.
• Active participation in the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative (CPQCC) and Vermont Oxford Network in the review of all infants who meet designated criteria. Responsibilities include data collection and analysis of both “Big Baby” and “Small Baby” data.

Qualifications

Licensed RN with minimum of 5 years progressive management responsibility and clinical related experience primarily within the Women’s Service Line and/ or the NICU Service Line.

BSN and Master’s Degree in Nursing or Business preferred.

Current certification in Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing from a nationally recognized accrediting organization, e.g. the National Certification Corporation (NCC).

Certified as a Regional Neonatal Resuscitation Provider Instructor. Provides Provider, Provider Renewal and Hospital Based Instructor courses for RN and RT staff, Neonatologists, Pediatricians and Obstetricians.

Minimum of 3 years clinical neonatal nursing experience, at least one of which must be in a facility with an NICU that is equivalent to a Regional or Community Level NICU.

Evidence of current successful completion of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program course of the AAP and AHA.

(similar to #1)Experienced in managing care issues related to the neonate (birth to 1 month old), child (1 to 14 years old), adult (18 to 65) and the geriatric population (greater than 65 years old) for related unit only.

Education and experience in Process Improvement, Change Theory and Team Building.

Demonstrated leadership experience including personnel management, cost reduction, productivity enhancement, and interdisciplinary practice with emphasis on quality/performance improvement within designated department responsibilities.

Experience in working and problem solving with physicians, administration, and hospital staff.

Clinical background with sound clinical assessment skills, along with the ability to make independent decisions regarding patient care.

Highly developed sense of initiative and flexibility, along with good judgment and analytical skills.

A management style that is open, team-oriented, collaborative, and based on trust and personal integrity.

Effective motivational, written, and verbal communication skills.

Experience with technology and ability to participate actively in the selection and purchase of capital equipment.

Comprehensive knowledge of regulatory requirements including Title 22 and Joint Commission.