The Director of the Emergency Department, reporting to the CNO, organizes, plans, and administers the day-to-day operations of the Emergency Room 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.
Major ResponsibilitiesClinical & Departmental Operations- Ensure delivery of safe, evidence-based emergency nursing care.
- Monitor patient flow to reduce wait times and improve throughput.
- Oversee triage processes and Emergency Severity Index (ESI) compliance.
- Coordinate care with inpatient units, ICU, surgery, laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy, and ancillary departments.
- Develop staffing plans based on patient census and acuity.
- 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 operations.
- Develop departmental strategic goals aligned with the hospital's mission.
- Foster a culture of safety, accountability, teamwork, and excellence.
- Lead department managers, charge nurses, educators, and clinical staff.
- Participate in hospital leadership committees.
- Collaborate with the Chief Nursing Officer and medical leadership on organizational initiatives.
- Lead departmental meetings and communicate organizational priorities.
- Complete annual performance evaluations and conduct individual review sessions semi-annually to foster professional growth and improve work performance.
Quality & Performance Improvement- Lead quality improvement initiatives.
- Monitor department performance indicators including:
- Door-to-provider time
- Left Without Being Seen (LWBS)
- Length of stay
- Patient satisfaction
- Sepsis compliance
- Stroke metrics
- STEMI metrics
- Trauma response times
- Medication safety
- Infection prevention
- Analyze quality data and implement corrective action plans.
- Participate in Root Cause Analyses (RCA).
- Lead Performance Improvement (PI) projects.
- Identify opportunities for workflow efficiencies, departmental cost savings, and enhanced patient safety.
- Review chart audit results regularly to identify compliance gaps and training opportunities.
- Educate staff on National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs) and Core Measure metrics, ensuring full compliance in daily practice.
- Actively engage staff in the decision-making process to drive employee satisfaction and engagement.
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.
Salary range: $100,000 - 115,000.00
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.
