Director, Patient Access and Transport

Position Summary
Who are we looking for:

Are you looking for a new and rewarding executive (use ‘ executive’ if it is a VP or above role) leadership challenge in healthcare? Interior Health has an exciting opportunity for Director, Patient Access and Transport. The location for this role is flexible within the Interior Health Region of British Columbia with the expectation to travel within the region. The role is currently Monday to Friday transitioning to a seven day a week rotation in the New Year. We are looking for people who want to make a difference in the communities in which they live, work and play. Relocation allowance may be provided, apply today to join our amazing team.

Some of the benefits of joining Interior Health:

• An attractive remuneration package
• Excellent career prospects
• Employee & Family Assistance Programs
• Employer paid training/education opportunities
• Employer paid vacation
• Medical Service Plan
• Employer paid insurance premiums
• Extended Health & Dental coverage
• Municipal Pension Plan
• Work-life balance
• Relocation Allowance may be provided

Salary range for the position is $128,298 to $184,428. Interior Health establishes salaries within the minimum and maximum of the salary range based on consideration of the qualifications, experience of the applicant, and an internal equity review of the salaries of other employees.

How will you create an impact:

The Director, Patient Access and Transport, in collaboration with Clinical Operations and Medical Staff is responsible for providing leadership and subject area expertise to develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of access and flow strategies, transportation systems to support patient receiving health services in the most appropriate location (which includes acute, community and long-term care). The Director determines the strategic direction for patient access and transportation services; ensures alignment with both provincial and organizational priorities; and guides the provision of safe, effective, and high-quality patient-focused care. The Director, contributes to setting a vision, communicates priorities, and facilitates resolution to patient access barriers among partners. Oversees the areas of managing a team of Regional Access/Flow Clinical Leads, Patient Transport Office and High Acuity Response Teams (HARTs) to coordinate patient access and repatriation between IH facilities; managing service contracts with Alternative Service Providers and the Health Connections program and providing strategic input into Pre-Hospital Care system design (e.g., ambulance bypass protocols). The Director also supports IH’s Emergency Management response (e.g., facility evacuations during wildfire events).

What will you work on:

1. Leads a collaborative development process and coordinates the implementation of Health Authority-wide patient access and transportation systems based on best practices. This includes researching and developing potential approaches, standards, and work plans; supervising staff; ensuring deliverables are on time/task/budget and aligned with both internal and external priorities; liaising and building relationships; and working with diverse partners, including clinical operational leaders, and medical staff.

2. Supports the strategic and operational planning, integration, implementation, delivery, and evaluation of patient access and transportation services.

3. Ensures linkages and supports to IH directional plans, operational and financial frameworks, and strategic imperatives as well as ensuring alignment with provincial strategies and initiatives. Coordinates and integrates initiatives and changes within clinical program portfolios.

4. Develops and leads innovative quality improvement initiatives that inform the continuous development of evidence-based, best practice clinical services across the Health Authority. Activities include coordinating the design, implementation, management, monitoring of electronic surveillance tools, and leading/contributing to clinical research initiatives in the medical transport subspecialty.

5. Leads, coordinates, and approves educational activities relative to the Services.

6. Leads and coordinates patient transportation resources to support IH’s Emergency Management Response (e.g., develops standard processes to support the evacuation of IH facilities during wildfire).

7. Accountable for successfully leading and achieving Accreditation designation requirements relative to the Services.

8. Continuously improves, standardizes, eliminates waste, and adds value from the perspective of the patient, the clinician, and the general public.

9. Under the direction of the Executive Director assists and provides input into the development of ongoing/future strategies that will enhance patient access and flow across the care continuum.

10. Liaises with Clinical Leaders, BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) and other Health Authorities regarding critical problem-solving activities that assist in decision-making relating to patient referral, access, and transportation to higher level of care.

11. Directs and implements strategic initiatives utilizing change management motivation and analysis. Manages projects effectively in a multi-disciplinary and complex environment, utilizing project management and LEAN management principles and methodologies.

12. Leads the development and implementation of innovative and creative approaches, opportunities, initiatives, and projects for delivery of high quality, value-added, and efficient services to support long-term strategies and effectively address patient/client needs and expectations.

13. Ensures clear performance objectives and indicators are in place to assess the delivery of services within an interdisciplinary and multi-site environment.

14. Ensures compliance with legislation and safety standards to provide a healthy and safe environment for patients/clients and staff.

15. Manages service delivery contracts with Alternative Service Providers and Health Connections.

16. Oversees and manages a team of Regional Access and Flow Clinical Leads, High Acuity Response Teams, and the Patient Transport Office.

17. Establishes effective administrative systems for maintaining, evaluating, and reporting on quality improvements and project activities.

18. In collaboration with the BCEHS-IH Coordinating Committee, provides strategic input and supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of pre-hospital and interfacility transport initiatives to support shared delivery of high-quality patient care between pre-hospital and hospital professionals.

19. Develops and monitors an annual budget including monitoring budget performance, planning, and adjusting deliverables to meet projections and annual targets; approving expenditures; and fiscal reporting.

20. Recruits, hires, implements performance management, disciplines, and terminates staff as is required to meet portfolio and organization objectives. Leads the development of educational plans, in-service training, and mentorship to support individual employee professional development and provides talent management and succession planning for the Services.

21. In alignment with IH’s Occupational Health & Safety Program, maintain a healthy and safe work environment through complying with and implementing applicable Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, responding to requests from WSBC, identifying hazards and communicating risks, ensuring compliance with employee training, conducting effective incident investigations, and implementing required corrective actions.

22. Performs other duties as assigned.

Honouring Interior Health’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), and Pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights Code, preferential consideration and/or hiring will be given to qualified applicants who self-identify as Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, or Inuit).

Qualfications
Education, Training, and Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in a health-related field that is directly related to patient clinical care, plus a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration or a related field.
• Seven (7) to ten (10) years of clinical operations management experience, including program leadership experience in a complex healthcare environment, and experience with pre-hospital medical services, and/or inter-facility patient transfer systems.
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

LEADS Capabilities:
Demonstrates all LEADS Capabilities, in particular:
• Leads Self/Cultural Agility – self-awareness, demonstrates character; noticing and adapting to cultural uniqueness to create a sense of safety for all.
• Engages Others/Empathy – fosters the development of others, communicates effectively, builds effective teams, listens with heart rather than reacting.
• Achieves Results/Process Orientation – sets direction, strategically aligns decisions with vision, values & evidence, accepting that use of process orientation and a ‘good relationship’ are concrete deliverables.
• Develops Coalitions/Building a Trust-Based Relationship – builds partnerships & networks to create results, demonstrates a commitment to customers & service, navigates socio-political environments, building personal relationships in addition to professional ones, participating in open exchanges of experiences and culture.
• System Transformation/Credible Champion – demonstrates systems/critical thinking, strategically oriented to the future, champions & orchestrates change, remains self-aware and maintains effective relationships, shows courage and conviction in advocating for change for the betterment of Indigenous people.

Skills and Abilities
• Knowledge and understanding of policy and policy implications relating to provincial and municipal governments and external agencies such as academic institutions and regulatory agencies.
• Experience with Accreditation Canada and regulatory body standards and the application of these.
• Experience in business practices regarding operating and capital areas and experience working with Ministries, Hospital Districts, Foundations, donors, Auxiliaries, and volunteers.
• Ability to interpret and willingly share knowledge about emerging, leading, and evidence-informed practice.
• Practical knowledge of change management, conflict resolution, decision-making, analysis, evaluation, facilitation, program development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Ability to leverage exceptional relationship-building skills and find innovative ways to communicate and build consensus with diverse groups regarding complex issues.
• Ability to work with a diverse group of key partners within and external to IH.
• Precision and great attention to detail in spite of short timelines and rapidly changing priorities.
• Demonstrated ability to work within a Matrix management structure.
• Flexibility with respect to how, where, and when work is performed. The position entails the Director to be on call during off-hours, weekends, and statutory holidays to problem-solve emergent issues and participate in a rotation to provide weekend and statutory holiday leadership for access and flow activities.
• A BC Driver’s license. The role requires travel approximately 20 percent of the time.

Interior Health strives to create an environment where you enjoy the work you do, the place where you work, and the people around you. Together, we create great workplaces. Apply today!