At Houston Methodist, the Lead Operations Administrator (OA) position is responsible for providing operational oversight and leadership throughout the organization, leading initiatives as directed by management. This position is also responsible for oversight and scheduling of the Labor Pool for their entity. The Lead OA position is responsible for leading direction in unforeseen situations, making timely decisions that directly impact patient care, fostering interdepartmental/interprofessional collaboration which reflect the mission and values of Houston Methodist. This position role models and ensures timely and effective oral/written communication and provides clinical guidance in the management of patient care, staffing, and interpreting and implementing established policies and procedures. The Lead OA position demonstrates critical thinking through self-direction, initiative, effective interpersonal skills, creating an environment for the management and delivery of safe patient care.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Actively participates in the interviewing process of candidates in OA position. Coordinates the orientation schedule of newly hired OA. Collaborates in the preparation of annual evaluations with supporting physician and management personnel to ensure all paperwork in in compliance with HR and policies.

• Trains new employees hired for the Operations Administrator role. Assigns available personnel, assesses triage assignments and makes appropriate modifications during the shift as necessary. Plans and coordinates staffing needs for the next shift and assesses needs for the following shift.

• Role models fair and consistent leadership skills for effective team dynamics and teambuilding strategies through problem resolution and coaching. Supports policy adherence and provides disciplinary measures when appropriate.

• Role models interprofessional communication, which includes active listening and teaching, communicating organizational information and all aspects of administrative and clinical practice in a respectful and positive way when interacting with staff. Assists with staff stress management as needed. Drives improvement of initiatives for department score for employee engagement.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Coordinates and expedites the admission/discharge, transfer and bed control process to optimize patient flow. Monitors and facilitates smooth and timely patient flow to ensure process efficiency. Provides bed assignments support as needed with designee.

• Provides oversight and scheduling of the Labor Pool. Oversees the activity in hospital operations during their shift. Manages administrative issues effectively, informs and documents pertinent information to Executive-On-Call, executive staff, directors and managers. Partners with public relations to manage outside media.

• Troubleshoots problems and/or issues regarding patient/family care, visitors, and facility issues on off shifts and weekends. Drives service standards and activities to improve department score for patient satisfaction, through role modeling and fostering accountability.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Monitors and analyzes work methods, staff scheduling and make appropriate adjustments, to assure a high level of service quality and cost effectiveness

• Maintains awareness/responsiveness of all emergency codes and disaster preparedness, coordinating when critical situations occur. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety.

• Participates and/or leads and facilitates department process improvements.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Attends daily care coordination rounds to facilitate patient progression. Manages bed closures and staffing allocation/cancellations to optimize efficiencies and reduce overtime.

• Provides oversight of the department schedule and timekeeping. Implements department strategies to achieve financial target and staffing needs. Mentors others to do the same through timely documentation of care, decreasing length of stay, optimizing efficiency, minimizing incidental overtime, and other areas as appropriate.

• Measures and analyzes resource allocation based on department and organizational needs. Identifies cost saving or revenue opportunities.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Generates and communicates new ideas to lead team to creative strategies that improve quality or service and impact the facility and address organization or department priorities. Actively participates in hospital quality, service and shared governance councils. Supports change initiatives and adapts to unexpected changes.

• Seeks opportunities to identify developmental needs of self and staff and takes appropriate action. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an on-going basis.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited school of nursing.

• Master's degree preferred

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Five years hospital experience in nursing; for HM internal, four years' experience in nursing which includes HM performance that demonstrates progressive leadership abilities, i.e. charge nurse responsibilities.

• One-year HM Operations Administrator experience

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• RN - Registered Nurse - Texas State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure within 60 days OR
• RN-Temp - Registered Nurse - Temporary State Licensure within 60 days AND
• BLS - Basic Life Support (AHA) AND
• NVCRISIS - Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (CPI) AND
• Magnet - ANCC Recognized Certification

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Demonstrates the ability to interact with others in a way that gives them confidence in one's intentions and those of the organization

• Demonstrates successful conflict resolution skills in a timely manner with patients, families, physicians and other healthcare team members

• Demonstrates leadership qualities and critical thinking through self-direction initiative, effective interpersonal skills, and excellent oral/written communication skills

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment

• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in the workplace

• Demonstrates problem-solving skills to include investigation, identification of cause(s) and development of corrective action

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs Yes
• Business professional Yes
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Houston Methodist Cypress Hospital, scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2025, will be Houston Methodist's ninth hospital and will incorporate the most advanced technology available from the day the doors open. With 100 beds (at our opening; licensed for 276) and a prime location in the heart of the rapidly growing U.S. 290 corridor, the hospital will be equipped with technologically advanced innovations implemented during COVID, many of them designed to make patient communication with physicians, staff and families the very best and most effective in any health care facility. Even though the hospital won't be fully operational until 2025, we have several services and specialties opening in 2024.