The Director of the Emergency Department and Med Surg, reporting to the CNO, organizes, plans, and administers the day-to-day operations of the Emergency Room and Med Surg at Valencia County Hospital. This role is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective, and timely emergency clinical services within established productivity and budget standards. The Director manages departmental personnel, capital and operating budgets, regulatory compliance, and serves as a visionary leader to develop and grow the service line. This position acts as a vital liaison between the Emergency Department, administration, physicians, EMS agencies, patients, families, and the local community.
Clinical & Departmental Operations
- Ensure delivery of safe, evidence-based emergency nursing care.
- Monitors patient care activities and ensures the proper application of department policy and procedure and adherence to National Patient Safety goals. Ensures that nursing care is based on the nursing process and evaluates the effectiveness on an ongoing basis.
- Oversees clinical standards, implements evidence-based practices, and acts as a patient advocate during rounds.
- Monitor patient flow to reduce wait times and improve throughput.
- Oversee triage processes and Emergency Severity Index (ESI) compliance.
- Coordinate care with inpatient units, surgery, laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy, and ancillary departments.
- Develop staffing plans based on patient census and acuity.
- Manages shift rosters, monitors patient acuity, and adjusts staffing levels to ensure safe nurse-to-patient ratios.
- Ensure emergency preparedness and disaster response readiness.
- Monitor emergency department capacity and diversion status.
- Plan, organize, and administer work in the Emergency Department by establishing services, policies, and procedures in accordance with hospital goals.
- Ensure continuous, accurate, timely, and cost-effective emergency services are provided to all patients.
- Interpret organizational and departmental policies for staff, analyze and resolve conflicts, and maintain a cohesive work environment.
- Assure that the work environment is safe and that staff have the necessary, functional equipment and supplies to achieve high-quality clinical outcomes.
- Conduct routine clinical rounding on newly admitted or presenting patients in the Emergency Department to directly address patient and family concerns.
Financial Management & Budgeting
- Develop, implement, and monitor the Emergency Department's annual operating, personnel, and capital budgets.
- Perform ongoing analyses to evaluate and recommend equipment and supplies for purchase, lease, or rental within budget and group purchasing contracts.
- Control overtime and agency staffing costs.
- Collaborate closely with the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to review major expenditures and complete appropriate capital justification forms.
- Manage department staffing grids to optimize productivity standards while maintaining patient safety and high-quality care.
- Monitor revenue cycle opportunities affecting emergency services.
Leadership & Staff Management
- Direct and oversee all Emergency Department and Med Surg operations.
Quality & Performance Improvement
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Patient Satisfaction: Achieves and maintains department patient satisfaction targets.
- Throughput Metrics: Minimizes Front-End times (Door-to-Provider) and optimizes Total Length of Stay (LOS) for discharged and admitted patients.
- Left Without Being Seen (LWBS): Maintains LWBS rates below the national/organizational benchmark.
- Patient satisfaction (HCAHPS/Press Ganey or equivalent)
- Nurse turnover and vacancy rates
- Overtime and labor productivity
- Staff engagement scores
- Falls and medication errors
- Hospital-acquired infection rates
- Sepsis bundle compliance
- Stroke and STEMI response times
- Trauma quality indicators
- Budget Compliance: Manages department operational, labor, and capital expenses within approved limits.
- Staff Retention: Meets or exceeds annual nursing and support staff retention targets.
- Regulatory & Quality Standards: Achieves 100% compliance with Core Measures, chart audit requirements, and CIHQ/CMS surveys.
Valencia County Hospital is a new 15-bed acute care facility currently under construction in Los Lunas, NM. Owned by Valencia County and operated through a joint venture between Community Hospital Corporation (CHC) and Lovelace Health System, this startup represents a vital investment in rural healthcare and a unique opportunity to build clinical excellence from the ground up.