Description

Job Summary:

Provides clinical and administrative oversight in all UPMC NCPA acute care sterilization locations, with at least 70% of time dedicated to the role of SPD leadership at Williamsport Hospital. Initiates strategy development, planning, organizing and standardization of disinfection and sterilization practices system-wide in alignment with IAHCSMM (International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materials Management) standards, AAMI guidelines as well as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Oversees all sterilization and decontamination services to patient care departments including receiving and issuing instrumentation and soft goods. System-wide responsibility for establishing standards of practice and ensuring completed work in accordance with those standards. Work collaboratively with Hospital Administration, Patient Care Service areas, and Medical Staff to actualize the UPMC NCPA Strategic Plan. Plans and markets disinfection / sterilization practices and programs to the medical staff and community. Participates in and leads development of services/programs to increase System utilization by physicians and patients. Responsible for the leadership and guidance in facilitating efforts directed at continually improving processes of disinfection /sterilization while advancing evidence based practices throughout the UPMC NCPA Region.

Responsibilities:

Planning

• Works with the Leader of UPMC NCPA Surgical Services and entity specific OR/SPD leadership, to monitor and assess advances in practice and organizational theory, clinical and technological changes, and economic and political trends in order to broaden the perspective and scope of hospital services to meet the changing needs of the patients, community, and customers.
• Develop comprehensive, realistic, and innovative goals and objectives that support the System's Strategic Plan • Assists management staff within the division in developing routine problem solving objectives, innovative objectives, and self-development objectives.
• Assist hospital management in creating High Level Disinfection processes on units where CSSD services are not available.
• Assists management staff in developing realistic plans of action and target dates for objectives. Reviews progress with these objectives at least every six months.
• Provide fiscal management of the department by planning and executing the preparation of capital, staffing, revenue and operations budgets in collaboration with the Business and Operations Director.
• Participates on inter-department committees and task forces.
• Plans for the information needs of the department. Works with Finance and Information Services to execute plans.
• Develops and approves departmental policies and procedures.
• Reviews resource utilization to ensure compliance with budget and Joint Commission Recommendations and Regulation parameters.
• Develops a strategic plan for CSSD that is aligned with and actualizes UPMC NCPA System's strategic plan.
• Acts as a resource for all entities within the UPMC NCPA System.
• Participates on all required committees and task forces as an administrative representative of UPMC NCPA.
• Oversee the daily operations of all of CSSD departments.

Organization and Staffing

• Will interview, select, counsel, discipline, promote, and terminate management staff.
• Organizes, evaluates, and modifies processes and staffing plans to achieve established goals and objectives.
• Collaborates with members of the organization to develop plans to supplement current use of best practices.
• Assist CSSD leadership to develop personnel strategies to respond to daily staffing requirements at multiple sites for personnel to move and respond to fluctuations in workload, when not limited by contract.
• Oversee Information Technology with disinfection/sterilization documentation and instrument control and tracking efforts.
• Oversee facilitation of new business and resolve disinfection/sterilization questions and issues
• Assist with construction projects in Surgical Services and assist with infection control measures, air pressure/temperature/humidity monitoring, and ICRA barriers.

Coaching and Development

• Reviews with CSSD leadership on a regular basis the functions, responsibilities, and authority of employees, to keep current with goals, policies, departmental, and performance objectives.
• Works with CSSD leaders to establish appropriate self-development objectives.
• Assists CSSD leaders in identifying and defining developmental needs of employees, plans methods for implementation of educational programs.
• Encourages employee creativity and innovation in the performance of their jobs.
• Promotes and maintains positive working relationships both intra and interdepartmentally to ensure open communication and collaborative problem solving.
• Assists the CSSD leadership team in the enforcement of policies relating to schedule and attendance guidelines and policies.

   Financial

• Collaborates with UPMC NCPA leader of Surgical Services and entity specific SPD/OR leadership on the design and allocation of financial, and information resources.
• Reports regularly to the UPMC NCPA Surgical Services leader and Vice President of Operations variances in budget and accomplishment of goals and objectives of each site CSSD.
• Establishes and enforces standards of practice and rules of conduct for employees in compliance with policies of the hospital.
• Ensures that cost centers within assigned responsibility operate within their expense budgets and meet or exceed revenue budgets.
• Provides a formal mechanism to ensure availability of policies and procedures to all employees and to communicate changes.
• Ensures that CSSD leadership keep employees informed of requirements of The Joint Commission, Department of Health, IAHCSMM, AAMI, CMS disinfection, and sterilization practices.
• Ensures that standards are met relating to accreditation and licensure.
• Evaluates departmental supply and service charges at least annually and revises as necessary in collaboration with the Surgical Services Business Manager.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain Director to monitor supply packaging integrity, sterility, and expiration dates monitoring.
• Ensures maintaining regulatory requirements for safety and environment of care.
• Prepares activity and statistical reports and furnishes related information as requested by Senior Leadership.

  Communication and Coordination

• Conducts department meetings with leadership team from all hospitals and other direct reports to provide a vehicle for communication and problem solving.
• Promotes and maintains harmonious relationships intra and interdepartmentally and ensures communication to provide for effective collaboration.
• Encourages the formation and utilization of cross-functional task groups to improve operations.
• Maintains open channels of communication between department managers, physicians, and administration.
• Participates in special task forces to assist in the achievement of surgical, hospital, and system goals and objectives.
•  Develops and implements professional and public educational programs to assure proper infection control practices where disinfection and sterilization are concerned.

  Marketing

• Collaborates with marketing department, planning and business development, community, and system staff to market services and programs.
• Discuss new programs and services requested at VIT and Operating Room Committee

Performance Improvement

• Establishes programs to monitor continuous quality improvement in departments within the organization. Monitor and ensure compliance by the entire organization where manufacturer's instructions for use, disinfection, and sterilization are concerned.
• Develop monitoring and examination methods of temperature and humidity, air pressures, scope processing, disinfection/sterilization and pre-cleaning processes and practices, and competency validation of staff and equipment to make high-level disinfection and sterilization a top priority of the organization in both the inpatient and outpatient services.
• Develops comprehensive programs for all areas of responsibility to monitor quality of care and status of process improvement activities.
• Reviews all quality reports and provides input if appropriate.
• Collaborates with medical staff and departmental staff to seek out areas of concern for Process Improvement.
• Follows regulatory requirements for process improvement programs.
• Reduce variability in organization disinfection and sterilization practices by promoting use of best practices and processes within the entire organization.
• Obtain organizational standardization and interdepartmental collaboration

External Relationships

• Develops cooperative relationships with ambulatory services and community agencies to promote an understanding of the UPMC NCPA System's.
• Foster relationships with area High School Administrations to create co-operative programs to prepare student for employment in CSSD units post High School
• Self-Development
• Attends seminars and workshops to improve management skills, human relations skills, and professional knowledge.
• Participates in local, regional or national professional association. Maintains membership as appropriate.

Customer Service

• Demonstrates the highest degree of customer awareness by seeking out opportunities to identify and meet the needs of internal and external customers.
• Treats each person as an individual with respect and dignity.
• Is receptive to constructive feedback
• Demonstrates concern and empathy.
• Consistently performs all of the above in a friendly, courteous manner.
• Maintains accountability for patient and family satisfaction throughout the episode of care

Must be optimistic, enthusiastic, and communicate effectively at all levels; must work constructively and cooperative at all levels, reflecting concern for patient, employee, and organizational wellbeing.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelors of Science in Healthcare Administration, Biology, Nursing or equivalent degree. Master's Degree preferred
• Minimum of five (5) years' experience in sterile processing
• Certification in CRCST or CHL preferred
• Certification as CNOR or CST preferred
• Progressive management experience.
• Must possess analytical skills and understand business practices.
• Must demonstrate knowledge of disinfection / sterilization practices, techniques, and modalities while maintaining interpersonal relationship skills, group dynamics and educational programs associated with organizational education and compliance.
• Demonstrate skill in planning, implementing, and evaluating programs and services while maintaining considerable skill in communication with physicians, staff and other health professionals.
• Demonstrate and maintain good skill managing professional staff, and develop evaluation tools, practices and techniques to assess disinfection/sterilization practices within the both inpatient and outpatient areas of the organization.
• Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• Masters in Healthcare Administration, Leadership or equivalent degree

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

N/A

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran

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