Director of Patient Care Services

Job Description

Job Description

TRI-VALLEY HOME HEALTH CARE INC.
JOB DESCRIPTION — DIRECTOR OF PATIENT CARE SERVICES (DPCS)

Location: Stockton, California
Department: Clinical Services
Reports to: Administrator
Works closely with: Chief Operations Officer, clinical staff, and Quality Assurance team

Position Summary

The Director of Patient Care Services provides clinical leadership, direction, and oversight of all patient care services provided directly or through contracted personnel by Tri-Valley Home Health Care Inc.

The DPCS is responsible for ensuring safe, individualized, and coordinated care; supervising clinical personnel; maintaining accurate and timely documentation; and promoting compliance with applicable California regulations, Medicare Conditions of Participation, CHAP accreditation standards, and agency policies.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Clinical Leadership and Patient Care

• Direct and coordinate nursing, therapy, medical social work, home health aide, and other clinical services.
• Review referrals to determine whether the agency has the staffing, clinical skills, and resources necessary to meet each patient’s needs safely.
• Oversee timely admissions, assessments, reassessments, recertifications, transfers, and discharges.
• Ensure individualized plans of care are developed, implemented, reviewed, and updated in coordination with the ordering physician or other authorized practitioner.
• Monitor changes in patient condition and ensure appropriate clinical intervention, communication, and follow-up.
• Lead case conferences and promote effective coordination among patients, families, caregivers, practitioners, and the interdisciplinary team.

2. Staff Supervision and Development

• Participate in recruiting, interviewing, selecting, orienting, and evaluating clinical personnel.
• Establish clinical personnel qualifications and assign staff according to patient needs, professional scope of practice, and demonstrated competency.
• Provide clinical guidance, coaching, education, and performance feedback.
• Oversee required supervisory visits, competency evaluations, and staff development activities.
• Address performance concerns promptly and collaborate with management on corrective action.
• Foster a professional culture of accountability, teamwork, respect, and patient advocacy.

3. Scheduling and Continuity of Care

• Oversee clinical assignments, staffing coverage, and visit schedules to support ordered services and continuity of care.
• Monitor missed, delayed, or rescheduled visits and ensure appropriate follow-up, documentation, and practitioner notification.
• Coordinate coverage for staff absences and urgent patient needs.
• Ensure the DPCS or a qualified RN designee is available on the premises or immediately accessible by telecommunications during operating hours when patients receive services.
• Participate in the agency’s on-call rotation and coordinate clinical handoffs and escalation procedures.

4. Documentation and Clinical Record Oversight

• Ensure clinical records accurately reflect the patient’s current condition, services provided, response to treatment, and progress toward goals.
• Enforce the agency’s documentation deadlines and promptly address incomplete, inconsistent, or overdue records.
• Oversee the accuracy and timely completion of assessments, applicable OASIS documentation, care plans, orders, visit notes, and discharge summaries.
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance and Medical Records staff to resolve documentation deficiencies.
• Monitor appropriate use of Axxess, electronic visit verification, and related clinical systems.
• Protect patient confidentiality and maintain secure handling of clinical information.

5. Quality Improvement, Safety, and Compliance

• Collaborate with the Administrator and Quality Assurance team to implement the Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program.
• Review patient outcomes, hospitalizations, emergency department visits, infections, falls, medication concerns, complaints, and other quality indicators.
• Investigate clinical incidents, identify contributing factors, and implement corrective actions.
• Oversee clinical infection prevention practices, patient safety education, and emergency preparedness activities.
• Maintain survey readiness and participate in regulatory surveys, accreditation reviews, audits, and plans of correction.
• Review and recommend updates to clinical policies and procedures.

6. Communication and Operational Collaboration

• Maintain timely, professional communication with patients, families, referral sources, practitioners, and agency personnel.
• Ensure urgent clinical concerns are acknowledged, escalated, and resolved through established communication procedures.
• Report significant patient safety concerns, staffing limitations, and compliance issues to the Administrator promptly.
• Work with the Chief Operations Officer on staffing resources, workflow improvements, and responsible agency growth.
• Support appropriate utilization of services based on patient needs, clinical orders, and payer requirements.

Required Qualifications

• Current, active California Registered Nurse license.
• Meet one of the following California DPCS education and experience pathways:
• • A bachelor’s or higher degree in nursing or another health-related field, with at least three years of experience within the preceding five years in a home health agency, primary care clinic, or health facility, including at least one year in a supervisory or administrative role; or
  • At least three years of experience in any health care setting in a supervisory or administrative role.
• Clinical knowledge and judgment appropriate to the agency’s patient population.
• Strong leadership, organization, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of home health clinical practices, documentation, quality improvement, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Ability to perform essential duties, including necessary travel and patient visits, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous DPCS, Director of Nursing, or home health clinical management experience.
• Experience with Medicare-certified home health operations and CHAP surveys.
• Proficiency with Axxess, OASIS, electronic visit verification, and clinical record review.
• Experience developing staff, improving patient outcomes, and managing corrective action plans.

Performance Expectations

Performance will be evaluated based on patient safety and outcomes, timely and accurate documentation, completion of ordered services, staff competency, responsiveness to patient concerns, regulatory readiness, and measurable quality improvement.

• Provide after-hours on-call coverage as assigned and needed, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, to address urgent patient care concerns, guide clinical staff, and coordinate appropriate follow-up.

\nCompany Description

Tri-Valley Home Health Care is a Medicare-certified, CHAP-accredited agency providing compassionate care to patients at home in Stockton, CA.

Company Description

Tri-Valley Home Health Care is a Medicare-certified, CHAP-accredited agency providing compassionate care to patients at home in Stockton, CA.