Director of Perianesthesia Care Services

Summary

The Director of Perianesthesia Care Services will oversee the integration and management of the Pre-Admission Testing (PAT) for Rhode Island Hospital & The Miriam Hospital, Rhode Island Hospital Hold & Prep, and Rhode Island Hospital Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) departments under a unified structure.

This leadership role will ensure the seamless delivery of care across these three critical phases of the perioperative process, improving patient outcomes, enhancing clinical workflows, and promoting staff collaboration. The Director will be responsible for developing and maintaining clinical pathways, streamlining communication, and continuously optimizing patient care and operational efficiency.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Leadership and Management Provide strategic leadership and direction for the combined PAT, Hold & Prep, and PACU departments. Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of clinical managers, nurses, and support staff across all three departments. Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and patient-centered care.

Ensure compliance with regulatory standards, hospital policies, and best practices across all areas of responsibility. Serve as the primary liaison between departments and executive leadership to ensure alignment with hospital goals. Clinical Operations and Patient Care Pathways Develop and maintain standardized clinical pathways that ensure a seamless, efficient, and safe patient journey from pre-admission through to recovery.

Coordinate the integration of pre-admission testing, preparation for surgery, anesthesia handoff, and post-operative recovery, ensuring continuity of care at every stage. Oversee patient flow, identifying opportunities to minimize delays, reduce bottlenecks, and improve overall perioperative efficiency. Ensure patient safety, optimal clinical outcomes, and high patient satisfaction levels across all three departments.

Workflow Integration and Communication Lead efforts to reduce handoffs and minimize communication gaps between departments, ensuring vital patient information is shared seamlessly across the care continuum. Implement real-time communication systems for patient updates, status changes, and team coordination.

Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (e.g., surgeons, anesthesiologists, nursing staff, and allied health professionals) to improve clinical decision-making, streamline operations, and ensure timely responses to changes in patient conditions. Staff Development and Training Oversee cross-training initiatives for staff across the PAT, Hold & Prep, and PACU departments to enhance flexibility and improve team collaboration.

Provide ongoing education and training to ensure staff remain up to date on best practices, policies, and technologies related to perioperative care. Performance and Quality Improvement Monitor and evaluate key performance indicators (KPIs) such as patient wait times, patient satisfaction, complication rates, staff efficiency, case cancellations, and recovery times.

Take appropriate actions to address issues and identify opportunities for system-level improvement. Lead efforts to continuously improve operational efficiency and clinical outcomes by identifying process inefficiencies and implementing corrective actions. Establish a feedback loop with staff and patients to gather insights on opportunities for improvement and make data-driven decisions.

Work closely with various stakeholders such as physician offices and inpatient care units (e.g., ICU and surgical teams) to align perioperative processes and implement collaborative improvement initiatives, such as reducing day-of-surgery cancellations, enhancing patient education, improving handoff processes, direct inpatient to operating room initiatives, optimizing PAT scheduling, and improving surgical preparation and post-op outcomes.

Compliance and Regulatory Oversight Ensure adherence to all relevant regulatory standards, including but not limited to those set by The Joint Commission, OSHA, and local/state health authorities. Manage accreditation processes for the perioperative services departments and maintain readiness for inspections and audits. Daily Management

Responsibilities

Staff Coordination: Oversee daily staffing needs, ensuring that shifts are properly filled and that staff levels are appropriate for patient volume. Patient Flow Management: Monitor patient flow from pre-admission through recovery, ensuring timely transitions and minimizing wait times.

• Operational Troubleshooting: Address any immediate operational issues or disruptions, such as delays in testing, patient transfers, or staff shortages.
• Quality and Safety Monitoring: Review daily clinical metrics, patient safety incidents, or any adverse events.
• Ensure corrective actions are taken when needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited college or university. Master's degree in nursing or a related field such as healthcare administration or its equivalent.

Consideration will be given to internal candidates who are matriculated in a Master's Degree program.Licensure as Registered Nurse in the State of Rhode Island by the Rhode Island Board of Nursing or licensure as a Registered Nurse in accordance with the Nurse Licensure Compact agreement of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

American Heart Association BLS (Basic Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) certifications.

Preferred certifications: CNOR (Certified Perioperative Nurse) CPAN (Certified Post Anesthesia Nurse) and/or CAPA (Certified Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nurse) NE-BC (Nurse Executive - Board Certified) or CENP (Certified in Executive Nursing Practice) Lean Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt) for process improvement and operational efficiency EXPERIENCE: At least 5 years of experience in healthcare leadership, with a focus on perioperative services (Pre-Admission Testing, Hold & Prep, Procedural area. or PACU).

Experience managing or overseeing multiple departments or clinical teams within a perioperative setting is preferred. Location: Rhode Island Hospital - 593 Eddy Street Providence, Rhode Island 02903 Work Type: Monday-Friday 8-430 Work Shift: Day Daily Hours: 8 hours Driving Required: No