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POSITION SUMMARY: 

Under the general supervision of the Medical Director, or designee, the Director of Health Services is responsible for the Department's health initiatives, working in close collaboration with quality management, risk management and operations.  The Director of Health Services is a position that is hired and managed by the Center for Developmental Disabilities Evaluation and Research (CDDER) at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Center at UMass Chan Medical School that will be embedded in the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Supports and leads the planning and implementation of strategies to improve health care for individuals supported by the Department.
• Remains current on and identifies health and wellness issues and information updates for the Department in order to anticipate Department policy, practice, or regulatory changes.
• Assures current health-related information, protocols, guidelines, and policies are posted, as appropriate, on DDS website.
• Creates and distributes health-related information to DDS staff and Providers including but not limited to specific advisories, Quality Assurance Briefs, Living Well newsletter articles and Quality is No Accident Briefs as well as topical webinars, health related guidelines and protocols and Signs and Symptoms Sheets.
• Provides input from a nursing perspective into regular updates to DDS Preventative Screening Guidelines.
• Works closely with the Medical Director, Office of Quality Management, Office of Quality Enhancement, Risk Management, DDS Area Office Nurses, Providers, and others in DDS to track, identify and plan strategies and activities to manage health and wellness needs of individuals living with family, in community residences or independently.
• Coordinates information gathering, strategy planning, and implementation of interventions on health and wellness related topics with DDS staff and partners at University of Massachusetts Medical School/ Center for Developmental Disabilities Evaluation and Research.
• Works with Provider staff to identify health related care challenges and create training tools and protocols for use in residential and work/day services programs.
• Participates in policy and program development related to health and wellness issues within the Department.
• In coordination with the DDS Medical Director, meets monthly with Tewksbury Hospital (TH) Developmental Disabilities Unit team to review current patients and discuss program issues and/or concerns.
• Liaises with Area Office Nurses to assure appropriate use of TH and address any concerns re: inpatient care or discharge planning.
• Monitors, creates, and distributes Medicare Part D information and changes on at least an annual basis to the DDS and Provider staff.
• Manages the entire Mortality Review process for DDS, inclusive of oversight of Regional Mortality Review Committees, and provides management support and nursing input to the Statewide Mortality Review Committee.
• Co-facilitates and provides nursing expertise to the DDS Clinical Consultation Team, which meets monthly.
• Meets with and provides technical assistance and support to Area Office Nurses and Providers nursing staff.
• Confers with Board of Nursing on issues regarding scope of practice for licensed and direct care staff as it relates to health and personal care related tasks can be done by whom.
• Confers, from a nursing perspective, with DDS health care providers when seeking support and input on policy, procedure and protocol development and implementation.
• Serves as a resource for DDS and Provider staff on specific medical and clinical issues from a nursing perspective as they arise.
• Acts as a liaison from a nursing perspective with other state agencies on issues related to aging, nutrition, Medicaid and Medicare coverage, end of life planning, guardianship issues.
• Provides nursing-related trainings and information to Hospitals as it relates to the inpatient and emergency needs of the IDD population.
• Participates in both DDS-only and interagency health-related grants and activities.
• Support race, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the workplace and delivery of services.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors Degree required in a related field or equivalent experience
• Applicants must have at least (A) four years of full-time or equivalent part-time experience as a registered nurse in a recognized hospital, clinic, or medical facility and (B) of which at least two years must have been in a supervisory, administrative, or managerial capacity, or (C) any equivalent combination of the required experience. A Graduate degree with a major in nursing may be substituted for a maximum of one year of the required (A) experience.
• Current and valid registration as a professional nurse under the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing.
• Experience working with people with I/DD and knowledge of I/DD related health issues.
• Ability to plan and present trainings in a precise, understandable manner to persons with a wide variety of skills and backgrounds, potentially including those with disabilities.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate data to draw conclusions, make appropriate recommendations, and provide oral and written reports to administration.
• Ability to understand, explain, and apply applicable laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, specifications, standards and guidelines.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement and discretion in handling confidential information.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people in a timely and diplomatic manner.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to work independently and in an organized, detail-oriented fashion.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Office Applications
• Possession of a current and valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license from a U.S. state

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Certified Developmental Disabilities Nurse
• Knowledge of DDS community system, regulations and policies.
• Knowledge of state and provider training needs.
• Experience with Mortality Reviews.