Mechanical Circulatory Support Manager

Job Description

UC Health is hiring a full-time Mechanical Circulatory Support Manager for the Surgery Department at the UC Medical Center.

UC Health is hiring a full-time Mechanical Circulatory Support Director for the Surgery Department at the UC Medical Center.

At UC Health, we're proud to have the best and brightest teams and clinicians collaborating toward our common purpose: to advance healing and reduce suffering.

As the region's adult academic health system, we strive for innovation and provide world-class care for not only our community, but patients from all over the world. Join our team and you'll be able to develop your skills, grow your career, build relationships with your peers and patients, and help us be a source of hope for our friends and neighbors.

UC Health is committed to providing an inclusive, equitable and diverse place of employment.

The Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Manager is responsible for acting as a liaison between MCS programs with cross-training in perfusion, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The MCS Manager provides 24-hour leadership and accountability for the clinical and administrative activities for the LVAD program to assure high quality patient and family centered care. The MCS Manager will work closely with physicians and other clinicians to establish high standards and continuity of care for patients, serving as a population-based expert clinician, and assisting with staff training and skills development for all individuals providing MCS care within the organization. The MCS Manager will be responsible for the LVAD training and skills development for all individuals performing LVAD care. The MCS Manager must demonstrate critical thinking, accountability, flexibility, and a cooperative attitude in meeting the needs of the department. The MCS Manager will provide direct patient care as scheduled by the Director of Mechanical Circulatory Support.

Responsibilities

PATIENT POPULATION - (CLINICAL ONLY)

• Engage in population appropriate communication.
• Has knowledge of growth and development milestones and tasks.
• Give clear instructions to patients/family regarding treatment.
• Involve family/guardian in the assessment, initial treatment and continuing care of the patient.
• Identify any physical limitations of the patient and deploys intervention when necessary.
• Recognize and respond appropriately to patients/families with behavioral health problems.
• Interpret population related data and plans care appropriately.
• Identify and respond appropriately to different needs resulting from, unique psychological needs or those associated with religious / cultural norms.
• Perform treatments, administers medication or operates equipment safely.
• Recognize and respond to signs/symptoms of abuse or neglect.

MANAGEMENT

• Coordinates equipment, supplies, and personnel for readiness to assist with LVAD implantation
• Develops, implements, and reviews LVAD policies, procedures and protocols
• Develops and maintains LVAD staffing plans and call schedules based on volumes, patient acuity, anticipated workload, skill mix, and competency requirements
• Establishes standards of performance and competencies for LVAD Coordinators, providing counseling and/or discipline where indicated
• Participates in the recruitment, interviewing, and hiring of staff for the LVAD program
• Manages performance by assessing competency of the LVAD Coordinators
• Completes performance evaluations for LVAD Coordinators
• Develops, implements, and ensures compliance with policies and procedures, regulatory and legal requirements and current health care standards
• Develops, implements, and evaluates quality and performance improvement activities to assure the ongoing quality of patient care
• Facilitates communication with LVAD Coordinators, ECMO Specialists, Perfusionists, Nurses, Critical Care, and other supporting physicians and medical personnel

ADMINISTRATIVE/FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY

• Assists the Director of Mechanical Circulatory Support with the establishment and maintenance of an LVAD budget and capital purchase requests
• Promote cost effective use of human and material resources, including primary and secondary equipment and supplies
• Ensure appropriate documentation and charges related to the LVAD program
• Responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating programmatic goals related to the LVAD program
• Develop, implement, and evaluate quality and performance improvement activities to assure the ongoing quality of patient care
• Collaborate with ECMO Manager and Chief Perfusionist to coordinate equipment, supplies, and personnel for readiness to place patients on MCS
• Collaborate with ECMO Manager and Chief Perfusionist to ensure MCS equipment is in good working condition, notifying appropriate personnel if repairs or replacements are needed
• Ensure MCS disposables are within their expiration period and readily available for use
• Assist the Director of Mechanical Circulatory Support with backorders and substitutes for supply chain disruptions as indicated
• Oversee the outsourcing of DME needs to ensure uninterrupted supply availability, communicating to patients and clinical staff as indicated
• Ensure LVAD annual preventative maintenance needs are scheduled and communicated for the LVAD program. Ensure appropriate equipment needs are available for annual preventative maintenance appointments.
• Ensures equipment records in online database for LVAD patients are maintained
• Review payroll for accuracy and track time and attendance
• Perform other administrative duties as designated by the Director of Mechanical Circulatory Support

COMPLIANCE/REGULATORY

• Maintain Joint Commission regulatory requirements and readiness for LVAD program
• Collect and organize data related to the LVAD program
• Ensure Performance Improvement boards across the organization are updated with LVAD Joint Commission metrics
• Oversee LVAD outcomes tracking and national benchmark comparisons
• Ensure INTERMACS data collection and administration of tests is completed and reviewed
• Assist ECMO Manager with ELSO Center of Excellence application to achieve highest possible ELSO designation
• Assist ECMO Manager with collection and organization of data related to the ECMO program

EDUCATION AND TEACHING

• Coordinates the orientation of LVAD Coordinators
• Coordinate MCS related training for staff across all areas that utilize MCS in collaboration with the UCMC Simulation Center
• Educate patients and/or family members regarding MCS as indicated
• Oversee learning experiences and mentoring of new and experienced LVAD Coordinators
• Assist the ECMO Manager with the orientation of ECMO Specialists
• Assist the Chief Perfusionist with the orientation for Perfusionists related to MCS
• Foster a climate conducive to educational experiences and professional growth for department staff, students, and other healthcare disciplines

CLINICAL COVERAGE

• Provide direct patient care as scheduled by the Director of Mechanical Circulatory Support
• Continue to meet all of the clinical job requirements of an ECMO Specialist
• Continue to meet all of the clinical job requirements of an LVAD Competent Clinician
• Attend daily huddles and meetings as applicable to maintain knowledge of MCS patients
• Assist with logistics of providing high quality care for both inpatient and outpatient MCS patients
• Coordinate the transport of LVAD patients to or from outside facilities
• Maintain all clinical competencies

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Seek new challenges and is self-directed in identifying resources/learning activities to enhance competence
• Attend appropriate continuing education related to current practice area and role responsibilities
• Ensure that new knowledge and skills gained from education are incorporated into actual practice
• Support UCMC sponsored outreach related to the growth and development of the MCS program
• Interpret and apply current MCS research to MCS practice
• Pursue leadership opportunities and actively contribute to programmatic meetings
• Meet deadlines and attend meetings consistently, representing self and department in a professional manner
• Maintain knowledge of current literature related to MCS therapies

Qualifications

Education:

Required - Bachelor's Degree in any field. Preferred - Master's Degree in any field.

License & Certification(s):

Current Basic Life Support for Healthcare Provider certification- required. ECMO Specialist certification required.

Experience:

Minimum 3 years of critical care experience required. Minimum 3 years as ECMO Specialist required. Minimum 1 year LVAD patient care experience with demonstration of LVAD competency