Director, Oncology Practice Operations - University of Maryland Medical System

University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health (UM UCH) offers the residents of northeastern Maryland an unparalleled combination of clinical expertise, leading-edge technology, and an exceptional patient experience.

A community-based, integrated, non-profit health system, our vision is to become the preferred, integrated health system creating the healthiest community in Maryland. We are dedicated to maintaining and improving the health of the people in our community through an integrated health delivery system that provides high quality care to all. Our commitment to service excellence is evident through a broad range of health care services, technologies and facilities. We work collaboratively with our community and other health organizations to serve as a resource for health promotion and education.

Today, UM UCH is the leading health care system and second largest private employer in Harford County. Our 3,500 team members and over 650 medical staff physicians serve residents of Harford County, eastern Baltimore County, and western Cecil County.

University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health owns and operates:

• University of Maryland Harford Memorial Hospital (UM HMH), Havre de Grace, MD
• University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center (UM UCMC), Bel Air, MD
• The Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation, Bel Air, MD
• The Aberdeen Health & Welness Pavilion, Aberdeen, MD
• The Patricia D. and M. Scot Kaufman Cancer Center, Bel Air, MD
• The Senator Bob Hooper House, Forest Hill, MD

Job Summary

Oversees the operational and financial performance of practices within the oncology service, as well as the safe and effective delivery of unregulated infusion, injection and laboratory services in the hematology/oncology practice. Facilitates the transformation of clinical and business operations to support the continued evolution of therapies, procedures, and models of care in a patient focused, high quality, safe and fiscally responsible manner. Collaborates with Leadership, Marketing, Finance, Pharmacy and Physician Outreach in the development and implementation of business plans. Prepares operating and capital budgets to support the same. Moreover, seeks to enhance the patient and family experience through the implementation of service standards, efficient clinical workflows, and team member/provider mentoring and education.

Primary Responsibilities

1. Oversees the daily operations of identified practices (currently hematology/oncology, breast surgery, and thoracic surgery). Identifies and monitors annual objectives for each practice and motivates performance to achieve the same across financial, operations, quality/safety, patient satisfaction, and cultural domains.

2. Monitors patient, provider call, and team member schedules to assure adequate patient access and the provision of safe, efficient care, and clinically appropriate care.

3. Collaborates with Pharmacy, Providers and Finance regarding the selection, procurement, storage, preparation, and administration of infusion/injection pharmaceuticals in the practice setting. Implements best practices to assure the safety of clinical staff and patients alike. Facilitates accurate and timely inventory counts.

4. Identifies opportunities for continuous performance improvement across the continuum of activity in the practices; works collaboratively to implement the same. Assures ongoing consideration of a patient and family centered approach to care and the UM UCH HRO journey.

5. Participates in UMMS IS&T user design centers and the UMMS Cancer Network, as requested, to ensure the optimization of Epic/Beacon functionality (i.e. EMR workflows, patient portal, reporting/dashboards) and review of new treatment regimens to ensure a unified delivery model for infusion services

6. Identifies and implements innovative tactics to optimize patient access to the practices (i.e. on-line scheduling and/or check-in, virtual visits, web content, space design).

7. Assesses and adjusts, as needed, operational variables impacting patient access and site-specific productivity (i.e. office hours, pre-visit planning, staffing complement, and provider schedules).

8. Assists in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of capital and operating budgets. Responsible for detailing budget variances and achieving financial goals. Responsible for fiscal performance of programs under position direction.

9. Supervises personnel actions including, but not limited to, hiring, performance, promotions, transfers and scheduling of team members. Encourages and plans professional development of department team members. Provides team member performance appraisals based on objective criteria and data. Provides effective individual coaching and mentoring to improve team member performance. Uses policies and procedures to fairly supervise all team members, holding all equally accountable. Develops provider onboarding plans inclusive of medical staff and payer credentialing, development of schedule templates, and optimization of networking opportunities.

10. Utilizes data and analytical tools to monitor identified quality metrics and advance strategic initiatives.

11. Develops and implements strategies to optimize and maintain team member engagement. Proactively serve as a resource to providers and team members to provide guidance and coaching on methods to improve communication with cancer patients and their families. Involves departmental team members in operational planning and decision-making. Fosters autonomy and critical thinking in nursing staff. Serves as professional role model for oncology nursing.

12. Leads by example; maintains high personal standards for customer satisfaction, productivity, learning, cooperation, responsiveness, communication and optimism. Encourages and role models teamwork. Fosters personal expertise and future professional development in a self-directed manner. Demonstrates professionalism, competence, an open communication style, high integrity, energy, creativity, diplomacy, and flexibility.

13. Collaborates with Physician Outreach, Population Health, and Cancer LifeNet teams to identify and implement opportunities to enhance community-based referral patterns and care coordination efforts. Facilitates provider networking and participates in community education and/or wellness events, if requested.

14. Promotes the UM UCH Foundation’s grateful patient program by engaging patients in discussions regarding their experience and encouraging providers and team members to do the same. Partners with the Foundation staff in support of philanthropic initiatives.

15. Assures preventive maintenance and accurate calibration of clinical equipment (including laboratory analyzers, infusion pumps, etc.). Arranges for ventilation and biological agent and carcinogen decontamination inspections of pharmacy hoods.

16. Performs other duties and special projects, as assigned.

Education & Experience - Required

(Provide required education (include discipline(s). Provide the minimum years and type(s) of experience that is required (do not use a range). Provide required certifications and/or licensures)

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing, business administration, or healthcare administration, or pursuit of master’s degree in these domains.
• 5 years or more in leadership experience in a healthcare setting. Oncology specific experience is preferred.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.