Hospice Clinical Operations Director

Three Oaks Hospice; Richardson (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Three Oaks Hospice is seeking a Director of Clinical Operations to provide strategic leadership and oversee clinical operations across the agency. This role ensures patient-centered care aligns with regulatory compliance, financial goals, and staff development.

The DCO will supervise RN, LPN/LVN, CNA, SW, Chaplains, and IDG members, drive QAPI programs, and partner with medical leadership to maintain survey readiness and high-quality care.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required. Master’s degree in nursing, Healthcare Administration, or related field preferred.
• Current and active Registered Nurse (RN) license.
• Minimum of 2 years of clinical management or supervisory experience in hospice or home health.
• Strong knowledge of hospice philosophy, end-of-life care, and pain/symptom management principles.
• Demonstrated experience in working effectively within an IDG.
• Proficient in Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems. Homecare Homebase strongly preferred.
• Thorough understanding of Medicare, Medicaid, and accrediting body standards (ACHC, CHAP, or Joint Commission).
• Knowledge QAPI programs, compliance audits, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Ability to lead, coach, and develop clinical teams, fostering accountability and engagement.
• Strong operational skills, including budget management, cost-per-patient-day oversight, and resource allocation.
• Ability to analyze operational and clinical data for continuous improvement.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, ability to interact effectively with patients, families, staff, and physicians.

Responsibilities

• Direct the overall clinical operations of the assigned team(s), ensuring standardization of processes, outcomes, and regulatory compliance, and ensuring all patients receive compassionate, timely, and high-quality care.
• Supervise and support Registered Nurses (RN), Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses (LPN/LVN), Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA), Social Workers (SW), Chaplains (CH), Team Managers (TM), and Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) members.
• Ensure consistent implementation of clinical policies, procedures, and evidence-based practices across all teams.
• Ensure timely hospice admissions by streamlining workflows and partnering with intake and clinical teams to provide rapid access to care, symptom management, and support at the point of need.
• Partner with Medical Directors and attending physicians to ensure accurate documentation, timely certifications, and effective symptom management.
• Lead and facilitate IDG meetings, ensuring timely updates, thorough eligibility review, and seamless care coordination.
• Lead or participate in Quality Assurance Performance Improvement (QAPI) programs and Performance Improvement Projects (PIPs).
• Audit clinical documentation for accuracy, completeness, and compliance, addressing deficiencies promptly in collaboration with Compliance.
• Promote effective collaboration among physicians, nurses, social workers, facility partners, and internal departments to ensure coordinated, patient-centered care.
• Ensure appropriate, timely, and safe transitions of care (e.g., level-of-care changes, discharges, transfers).
• Maintain continuous compliance with Medicare Conditions of Participation, state regulations, and accreditation standards.
• Oversee preparation for regulatory and accreditation surveys to ensure ongoing readiness.
• Monitor compliance with face-to-face (F2F) visits, hospice eligibility documentation, and timely physician certifications.
• Track and act on key quality indicators, including CAHPS scores, audit scores, ALOS, HOPE compliance, and clinical record reviews.
• Lead root cause analyses of clinical deficiencies, survey citations, and patient/family complaints; implement corrective action plans.
• Drive performance improvement initiatives focused on patient/family satisfaction, clinical quality outcomes, and regulatory adherence.
• Partner with the ED, SDCO (if applicable), AVPO, and regional leadership to manage budgets, resource allocation, and productivity standards.
• Develop and manage staffing models in adherence to company best practices that balance patient care needs, efficiency, and financial goals.
• Monitor and act on weekly/monthly KPIs, including:
• ADC & Growth Metrics: census trends, referral conversions
• Utilization Metrics: ALOS, GIP % of days, Continuous Care % of days, HVLDL, NTUCs
• Staffing & Productivity Metrics: caseload ratios, visit productivity, cost per patient day, labor ratios
• Quality Metrics: CAHPS, survey/audit scores, HOPE compliance
• Monitor and control labor spend, overtime, and contract labor usage while maintaining company-established staffing ratios and productivity expectations.
• Implement corrective action plans when KPIs fall below target.
• Mentor and develop the assigned team(s) to ensure high performance, strong retention, and succession planning.
• Identify and prepare high-potential team members for future leadership pathways.
• Ensure structured onboarding, ongoing education, and competency validation for all clinical hires within assigned team(s).
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional growth across the team.
• Conduct regular meetings with direct reports and oversee performance management and staff engagement.
• Serve as a key liaison between clinical operations, medical leadership, business development, and administrative functions.
• Foster effective communication across teams to ensure seamless patient care and care coordination.
• Serve as acting Administrator or Executive Director as needed.
• Participate in community relations activities to strengthen organizational presence and referrals.
• Demonstrate urgency and ownership in addressing patient/family concerns, ensuring timely service recovery.
• Participate in on-call rotation and serve as Administrator On-Call when assigned.
• Respond promptly to after-hours issues related to patient care or staffing.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Regulatory compliance

Staff development

Operational leadership

Education

BSN

Master's degree in Nursing or Healthcare Administration

Tools

EMR: Homecare Homebase

Job description

Three Oaks Hospice is seeking a Director of Clinical Operations to provide strategic leadership and oversee clinical operations across the agency. This role ensures patient-centered care aligns with regulatory compliance, financial goals, and staff development.

The DCO will supervise RN, LPN/LVN, CNA, SW, Chaplains, and IDG members, drive QAPI programs, and partner with medical leadership to maintain survey readiness and high-quality care.