Hospice Director of Clinical Services

Job Description

Job Description

Title: Hospice Director of Clinical Services

County: Worcester County, MA

We are seeking a full-time Clinical Services Director to join our hospice leadership team. The Clinical Services Director is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the delivery of high-quality clinical services to hospice patients and their families. This role provides leadership and supervision to the interdisciplinary clinical team while ensuring patient care is delivered in accordance with hospice philosophy, organizational policies, and all applicable federal and Massachusetts Department of Public Health hospice regulations.

The Clinical Services Director plays a critical role in maintaining regulatory compliance, supporting interdisciplinary care planning, and promoting excellence in patient-centered end-of-life care. This position works collaboratively with the Administrator, Medical Director, and clinical staff to ensure the hospice program maintains compliance with state licensure requirements, CMS Conditions of Participation, and quality assurance standards, while fostering a supportive and compassionate care environment for patients and families.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinates the delivery of hospice clinical services including nursing, social work, counseling, spiritual care, hospice aide services, and volunteer services.

• Ensures services are delivered in accordance with Massachusetts hospice licensure requirements regarding required hospice patient care services.

• Oversees nursing services and ensures availability of clinical support and coordination of care 24 hours per day, seven days per week as required by hospice regulations.

• Provides clinical leadership and guidance to interdisciplinary team members regarding patient care needs and hospice standards of practice.

• Ensures that individualized plans of care are developed, implemented, and updated in accordance with patient needs and physician orders.

• Collaborates with the Medical Director and attending physicians to ensure appropriate symptom management and clinical decision-making.

• Maintains ongoing readiness for Massachusetts Department of Public Health hospice licensure surveys and federal CMS hospice surveys.

• Conducts routine internal audits of clinical records to ensure compliance with regulatory documentation requirements.

• Monitors documentation for:

• • Initial nursing assessments

  • Comprehensive assessments

  • Hospice eligibility documentation

  • Physician certifications and recertifications

  • Plan of care updates

  • Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) documentation

  • Medication reconciliation

  • Face-to-face encounter documentation

• Assists in preparation for regulatory surveys including document review, policy updates, staff education, and corrective action planning.

• Participates in development and implementation of corrective action plans following survey findings or compliance audits.

• Coordinates the activities of the hospice Interdisciplinary Team (IDT)

• Ensures interdisciplinary meetings occur regularly and that patient care plans are reviewed and updated as required.

• Ensures participation of key interdisciplinary team members including:

  • Medical Director

  • Registered Nurse

  • Social Worker

  • Volunteer Coordinator

  • Spiritual or bereavement counselor.

• Ensures each patient has a designated care coordinator responsible for implementation of the plan of care.

• Assists in the development, implementation, and review of hospice policies and procedures

• Ensures policies address:

  • Admission criteria

  • Patient and family rights

  • Infection control

  • Clinical documentation standards

  • End-of-life care practices

  • Quality and utilization review.

• Participates in annual review and updates of hospice policies as required by state regulations.

• Ensures hospice admission processes compliance, including appropriate documentation of terminal illness and patient election of hospice services.

• Reviews admission documentation for completeness and regulatory compliance.

• Ensures patient and family informed consent is obtained and documented.

• Participates in the hospice Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program.

• Monitors quality indicators including patient outcomes, incident reports, and complaints.

• Assists in identifying opportunities for improvement in patient care delivery and regulatory compliance.

• Ensures corrective actions are implemented when quality concerns are identified.

• Supervises clinical staff including nurses, hospice aides, social workers, and other clinical personnel.

• Participates in recruitment, hiring, orientation, and training of clinical staff.

• Conducts performance evaluations and competency assessments.

• Ensures clinical staff maintain appropriate licensure and certifications.

• Provides education regarding hospice regulations, clinical documentation standards, and patient care practices.

• Assists the Administrator in ensuring the hospice program maintains compliance with all state licensure requirements.

• Ensures appropriate staffing and clinical coverage to meet patient care needs.

• Coordinates communication among clinical staff, physicians, patients, and families.

• Ensures clinical documentation is completed accurately and timely in the electronic medical record.

Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing required.

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.

• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in Massachusetts required.

• Minimum 3–5 years of hospice, home health, or palliative care experience.

• Minimum 2 years of supervisory or clinical leadership experience preferred.

• Demonstrated knowledge of Massachusetts hospice regulations, CMS Hospice Conditions of Participation and Hospice interdisciplinary care model.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of hospice clinical standards and end-of-life care practices.

• Understanding of Massachusetts hospice licensure requirements and survey processes.

• Ability to interpret regulatory requirements and ensure program compliance.

• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced clinical environment.