The clinical services director is in charge of all hospital or clinic administration and day to day operation efforts. Directors make sure that the operations of the health care facility meet all regulations. They are responsible for disseminating key legal and financial information to all medical employees, including licensed physicians and medical technicians. Directors of clinical services generally perform the same functions across different types of health care facilities, whether they are based in a university hospital, hospice clinic, or nursing home.
A significant portion of the clinical services director job is spent in human resources management. The director is expected to hire, promote, and sometimes terminate health care employees. Oftentimes, he or she will work jointly with the Director of Human Resources and the Director of Operations to complete the task of managing employees. In order to keep up with changes, clinical services directors must always be aware of how employees are performing and what they are contributing to the overall medical environment.
As in other professions, it is imperative that healthcare professionals receive regular training to stay on top of advances and innovations in the medical field. Making sure that the staff are regularly trained can be an important part of clinical services director duties. The director typically has the power to approve or deny training programs and expenses related to implementing these programs.
Taking care of the finances and accounting procedures constitutes another part of the clinical services director job description. Overseeing the coordination of patients' insurance policies, employee payments, salaries, and facility overhead expenses is within the purview of the director. Working together with the Chief Financial Officer, the clinical services director often makes budget proposals and recommends changes to the organization's fiscal policy.
Expanding and opening new branches is a laudable goal for many health care organizations. In this capacity, the clinical services director serves as a marketing professional, seeking out new business opportunities for the clinic or hospital. Business development duties for the director can include contributing to marketing campaigns, talking directly with potential patients, and conducting presentations on the health care organization's services and patient care philosophy.
Perhaps the most important part of the position is to ensure that all patients receive the care that they need. Clinical services directors usually oversee the day to day activities of physicians, nurses, physician assistants, and specially trained medical technicians. These professionals come in direct contact with patients each day, and it is often the duty of the director to make sure that these employees effectively treat the patient.
