Director Imaging and Diagnostic Services

At Houston Methodist, the Director Imaging & Diagnostic Svcs position is responsible for the overall management, leadership and direction for Imaging Services including but not limited to CT, Radiology, Ultrasound, MRI, Nuclear Medicine, PACS and other radiology modalities or services which includes short and long term planning, program and staff development, resource and budget management, quality monitoring and improvement, strategic planning, and evaluation of policies and procedures to ensure quality patient care and patient satisfaction. This position serves as key advisor on all administrative matters relative to Imaging Services and its activities, maintaining clinical and management knowledge to advance the profession and utilizes team leadership within the department to accomplish these goals and works in cooperation and under the direction of the Medical Director of Imaging to meet all regulations and accreditation standards.

The Director position responsibilities include overseeing the activities of the department staff, ensuring quality, productivity, functional excellence and efficiency to accomplish strategic and operational objectives. In addition, this position is accountable for employee engagement, adequate staffing levels, budget development and compliance, staffing decisions such as hiring and terminating employment, coaching and counseling employees on work related performance, and developing and implementing policies and procedures to ensure a safe and effective work environment. This position also ensures training, monitoring and operations initiatives are implemented which secure compliance with ethical and legal business practices and accreditation/regulatory/government regulations.

FLSA STATUS
Exempt

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree
• Master’s degree preferred

EXPERIENCE

• Six years of experience in a radiology services, of which two years must have been in a people management role preferably in a hospital environment; for HM employees, five years of experience in relevant imaging field with one year people management experience and/or leadership responsibility
• Strongly preferring applicants with strong leadership experience including physician engagement, operational performance, access and throughput, technology and capital planning, as well as business development

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required

• Certified Medical Radiologic Technologist (CMRT) or Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) and
• Must possess a minimum of ONE of the following credentials in any of the following imaging modalities:
  • Radiology - ARRT(R), ARRT(THR), ARRT(BS)
  • Nuclear – ARRT(NM) or CNMT,
  • CT – ARRT(CT),
  • MRI – ARRT(MR) or ARMRIT or CAMRT,
  • Mammography- ARRT(R) and ARRT(M),
  • Ultrasound- ARDMS-AB or ARDMS-OB or ARDMS-AE
  and
• BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association

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 about activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
• Demonstrates the ability to interact with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization
• Ability to use appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas or plans; modifying one’s own behavior to accommodate tasks, situations and individuals involved
• Demonstrates leadership qualities and critical thinking through self-direction initiative and effective interpersonal skills and oral/written communication skills
• Ability to identify and understand issues, problems and opportunities, comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints and probable consequences
• Extensive knowledge of regulatory and accreditation agency requirements that impact department; stays abreast of industry changes
• Demonstrates highly effective communication skills—strong written communications and platform presentation abilities
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in the workplace
• Capable of leading teams/facilitating groups, building consensus and garnering highest confidence in professionalism and work product by senior leadership
• Ability to work under pressure and balance many competing priorities; highly responsive and solution/action oriented
• Proficiency in spreadsheet, word processing, and presentation software
• Maintains a positive and supportive attitude and demeanor
• Professional handling of exposure to confidential/sensitive information
• Proficient in Radiology information systems and other hospital systems
• Ability to involve, train and include others in the development of departmental goals, priorities and programs

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Directs, develops and implements strategic and operational/high level projects and processes either through independent/highly autonomous work or through the facilitation of work teams to enable the effective and efficient completion of objectives.
• Oversees management of and ensures development for staff to meet overall objectives in terms of quality, service and cost effectiveness. Provides timely guidance and feedback to help others strengthen specific knowledge/skill areas needed to accomplish a task or solve a problem. Directs management responsibilities of selection, scheduling, supervision, retention, and evaluation of employees.
• Meets or exceeds threshold goal for department turnover and/or system metrics on employee engagement indicators.
• Provides leadership and communication to maintain a competent and engaged employee group by conducting regular department meetings to review policies and procedures and operational matters, rounding on all employees, completing performance appraisals, conducting new hire feedback sessions, coaching/corrective counseling, and providing recognition/commendations to achieve desired outcomes.
• Identifies opportunities and takes action to build strategic relationships between one’s area and other areas, teams, departments, and units to achieve business goals. Drives the promotion of teamwork within and between departments; participates and/or leads and facilitates department process improvements as needed.
• Guides and directs others toward goal setting. Ensures seamless, quality, family-centered care throughout the health-illness continuum. Actively participates and leads initiatives to improve patient and hospital operations. Delegates effectively by entrusting responsibility and authority to others.
• Serves as key advisor on all administrative matters relative to Imaging Services and its activities.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Oversees department operations, designated projects, schedules and activities as needed to ensure that goals or objectives are accomplished within the prescribed time frame. Sets priorities and functional standards, giving direction to staff as necessary to ensure the best possible delivery of service and high customer/patient satisfaction.
• Drives department service standards and activities to impact department and/or system score for patient/customer-based satisfaction, through role modeling and fostering accountability. Serves and actively participates on various entity committees as a voice for the department.
• Sets goals and objectives and develops an implementation system to reach those goals. Ensures creative and futuristic planning for health care delivery. Collaborates with medical staff, executives, hospital leaders, and hospital staff to assure goals are in congruence.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures a safe and effective working environment; monitors and/or revises the department safety plan and/or any specific accreditation/regulatory required safety guidelines. Responsible for staff maintenance of credentials and competencies, per accrediting/ licensing agency and/or department guidelines as applicable.
• Employs a proactive approach in the optimization of safe outcomes and information systems by monitoring and improving the department workflow and enhancing operations, using peer-to-peer accountability and identifying solutions via collaboration. Implements process improvements utilizing tools such as lean principles. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety.
• Responsible for employee compliance to policies and procedures and performs associated actions upon non-compliance (i.e., licensure/certification compliance, focal point review requirements, disaster plan, in-services, influenza immunization, wage and hour, standard hours, timely termination submission, timely timecard approval, etc.).
• Ensures compliance with all Business Practices standards of performance. Defines and measures standards that ensure patient safety and performance excellence. Responsible for all local, state and national inspections and standards for all Radiology sections.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops and manages department operational and capital budgets, approvals, and ongoing maintenance of the department(s), ensuring operation in a cost-effective manner. Proactively identifies and plans for capital needs related to current equipment and future department projects. Ensures staffing plans and schedules meet department needs that reflect understanding of the importance of cost-effectiveness.
• Creates department strategies to achieve financial target and staffing needs, through optimizing productivity, supply/resource efficiency, minimizing incidental overtime and overtime percentage, and other areas according to department specifications.
• Obtains and manages human, financial and physical resources within areas of responsibility. Utilizes monitoring and trending data to provide appropriate cost-effective patient care which is in concert with the philosophy of the Houston Methodist.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Identifies and implements innovative solutions for practice or workflow changes to improve department, entity or system operations by leading unit projects and/or other department/ system-directed activities. Proactively leads task forces and committees. May represent HM at assigned community or professional organization meetings.
• Drives change initiatives, maintaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment; adjusts effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures. Partners effectively with stakeholders as appropriate.
• Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates My Development Plan (MDP) on an on-going basis. Conducts conversations with staff on their development and MDP.
• Integrates current knowledge of all areas of responsibility and management theories and concepts into the practice environment. Establishes goals for own professional growth including participation in professional organizations.
• Serves as an internal expert to the organization and develops and implements training programs for staff.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

• WORK ATTIRE
  • Uniform: No
  • Scrubs: No
  • 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* Yes
• 
  TRAVEL**
  **Travel specifications may vary by department**
  • May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
  • May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree
• Master’s degree preferred

EXPERIENCE

• Six years of experience in a radiology services, of which two years must have been in a people management role preferably in a hospital environment; for HM employees, five years of experience in relevant imaging field with one year people management experience and/or leadership responsibility
• Strongly preferring applicants with strong leadership experience including physician engagement, operational performance, access and throughput, technology and capital planning, as well as business development

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required

• Certified Medical Radiologic Technologist (CMRT) or Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS) and
• Must possess a minimum of ONE of the following credentials in any of the following imaging modalities:
  • Radiology - ARRT(R), ARRT(THR), ARRT(BS)
  • Nuclear – ARRT(NM) or CNMT,
  • CT – ARRT(CT),
  • MRI – ARRT(MR) or ARMRIT or CAMRT,
  • Mammography- ARRT(R) and ARRT(M),
  • Ultrasound- ARDMS-AB or ARDMS-OB or ARDMS-AE
  and
• BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association