Chief Operating Officer

In 2020 united in a fierce commitment to deliver the highest quality care and exceptional patient experience Virginia Mason and CHI Franciscan Health came together as natural partners to build a new health system centered around the patient: Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. Our combined system builds upon the scale and expertise of our nearly 300 sites of care including 11 hospitals and nearly 5000 physicians and providers. Together we are empowered to make an even greater impact on the health and well-being of our communities.

This is a senior management job responsible for providing administrative, operational and clinical leadership for the assigned Virginia Mason Franciscan Health (VMFH) community hospital campus to ensure that operations are conducted in accordance with strategic business plans, professional/clinical standards and applicable regulatory/accreditation requirements and produce fully integrated, high quality and cost-effective health care outcomes. In the context of day-to-day operations, an incumbent serves as the hospital Chief Operating Office and Chief Nursing Officer and has direct oversight of plant operations, environmental services, dietary, supply chain/material management as well as all inpatient and outpatient clinical operations, including integration of diagnostic imaging and perioperative services. Work is focused on optimizing culture, quality, safety, patient care outcomes and the patient experience in partnership with physician leadership, ensuring that the needs of the hospital are understood and addressed in short- and long-term strategic planning, leading significant change management and performance improvement initiatives, maximizing financial performance and creating effective relationships with external constituencies to deliver sustained value to the community. An incumbent maintains close ties to all hospital departments and medical staff to assure efficient, cost-effective and compliant operations and to identify/address/resolve challenges in a timely manner.

Work includes: 1) overseeing financial management of assigned facility, including monitoring budgets, productivity measures and other internal controls to assure defined targets and maximum performance measures are attained; 2) recommending/overseeing capital improvements such as upgrading hospital facilities, including construction/renovation of structures and purchase of new equipment; and 3) leading/implementing initiatives, programs and projects to monitor, evaluate, integrate and improve overall hospital operations and quality of care in line with healthcare reform mandates and new organizational/delivery models; and 4) directly supervising subordinate site-based clinical management staff (e.g. Med-Surg, Emergency Services, Critical Care, Acute Care, etc).

Key contacts include VMFH Leadership, independent physician group leaders, physicians and other healthcare professionals to gain acceptance of recommendations regarding new programs/systems/policies and financial/performance/process improvement opportunities. Effective performance requires a high degree of professionalism and the ability to interact effectively with a wide variety of internal/external entitles/stakeholders to significantly increase the growth, visibility and financial viability of the assigned hospital. Responsibilities require considerable knowledge of healthcare reform concepts and organizational models, technologies and hospital operations sufficient to take advantage of important synergies/opportunities in contract administration, cost containment, business growth/development, clinical outcomes, information systems support and regulatory compliance.

Operational Accountability

• Plans, directs and evaluates all community hospital operations to ensure that all services/activities are conducted in a timely and cost-effective manner and in compliance with organizational values, professional/accreditation standards, internal policies/standards/procedures and applicable regulatory requirements; assures the safe and appropriate delivery of diagnostic and therapeutic patient care and achievement of clinical core measurement scores; coordinates with Division SVP COO to ensure timely and effective execution of key strategic plans and objectives.
• Directs the development of reports on key performance indicators and other significant benchmarking metrics; makes presentations to present results to executive stakeholders.
• Directs the development, implementation and evaluation of new/revised standards, policies, procedures, guidelines, training materials and/or general communications in support of the organization to ensure consistency with the philosophy/values of the organization and compliance with applicable regulatory/accreditation/contractual requirements; ensures that all support activities are fully documented in accordance with the standards and practices of the organization; ensures that employees understand and apply internal guidelines appropriately, and monitors compliance with all regulatory requirements.
• Cultivates and maintains professional relationships with community constituents and other external entities/stakeholders to foster opportunities for enhanced community interaction/involvement, revenue enhancement/increased market share, and to positively impact public perception and brand awareness.

Short- and Long-Term Planning

• Works with the Div SVP COO, VMFH leadership and other key stakeholders in the ongoing formulation of strategies, initiatives, priorities, objectives, business development/marketing plans and related policies/procedures; directs and coordinates the development/implementation of formal strategic/tactical plans, to include both short- and long-term business planning; makes effective presentations with regard to future recommendations, key performance indicators and other significant benchmarking metrics.
• Keeps abreast of national best practices and develops strategic programs that become best practices; ensures the ongoing assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the organization to better identify future organizational development needs, priorities and challenges. Evaluates existing systems/program/priorities and future potential to make recommendations for growth, expansion, new services and solvency of existing services based on market demographics and facility/service line volume projections; develops and executes methodologies for measuring impact, return on investment and/or effectiveness in meeting overall objectives and achieving expected results.

Budget Administration

• Directs the development of the annual operating/capital budget for the assigned hospital; identifies, aligns and optimizes resources to positively impact organizational strategies towards achievement of goals; reviews monthly financial reports to ensure budgetary objectives are achieved; exercises effective cost control by monitoring and adjusting expenses as needed to stay within budget; approves expenditures within defined scope of responsibility; identifies negative variances and develops action plans to document, address and effectively resolve in a timely
  manner.
• Oversees the preparation of timely, complete and accurate financial, budget, activity and productivity information, including variance reports, financial projections and other statistical reports; keeps interested parties apprised of all issues with potential for budgetary impact.

Staff Management and Development

• Directs and evaluates the work of subordinate management staff in accordance with the content, spirit and intent of applicable internal/external regulations and standards for human resource management; makes employment decisions, establishes performance standards and evaluates management performance; educates, guides, counsels and develops management staff and addresses performance management concerns and technical issues elevated by subordinates as beyond their scope of authority.
• Meets periodically with site-based managers who have direct reporting relationships through other reporting hierarchies (e.g. Lab, Pharmacy, Therapies, etc) to gather feedback regarding clinical functions and to review matters such as budget, productivity, clinical outcomes, staffing, ongoing projects and others of similar importance; identifies issues and works with regional management and site-based manager to address and resolve as appropriate.

Regulatory Compliance

• Ensures compliance with internal/external legal, contractual and regulatory standards and requirements relative to 1matters under defined scope of responsibility, and that effective controls are in place and fully functioning to preclude improprieties from occurring; monitors the effectiveness of current practices in meeting expectations and producing desired results consistent with federal, state and regulatory requirements.
• Keeps abreast of changing regulatory requirements/regulations, professional standards, changing customer demographics and competitive industry practices impacting assigned functions, as well as organizational initiatives/changes with potential to impact current strategies, programs and resources; determines nature/scope of impact on existing activities and recommends effective response/solution while maintaining acceptable service levels and work quality.

Business Development/Marketing

• Ensures the development and execution of effective marketing strategies and promotional materials that are designed to enhance awareness, expand market share and increase revenues to VMFH; identifies and implements strategies/opportunities to differentiate VMFH programs and services from those of other healthcare providers; participates in community awareness activities to promote clinical programs/services. Performs related duties as required.

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Education/Work Experience Requirements

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in healthcare administration, business administration or other discipline related to the duties of the position.
• Minimum of seven years of executive-level experience that would demonstrate attainment of the requisite job knowledge/abilities.
• Five years of leadership work experience.

Job Knowledge/Abilities:

• Knowledge of the principles, practices and tools relating to hospital/health system administration, strategic business planning, program development and continuous process/performance improvement.
• Knowledge of health care reform initiatives and legal issues pertaining to health care sufficient to apply to strategic planning, operations and programs.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, standards, techniques, protocols and tools/equipment relating to clinical operations in a healthcare environment.
• Knowledge of the content, intent and application of regulations, policies, standards, operations, and requirements applicable to the business function(s) under designated scope of authority.
• Knowledge of safety/risk management and regulatory accreditation/survey processes relating to health care organizations.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, regulatory requirements and VMFH policies applicable to budget administration, financial management, employee supervision and performance management.
• Knowledge of, and experience with, managed care, including capitation and contracting issues.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, methodologies and tools relating to structured performance improvement methodologies.
• Knowledge of the standards, practices and tools relating to effective group presentation, facilitation and communication.
• Ability to communicate functional concepts and expertise to senior management and other interested parties to facilitate strategic planning and achievement of business objectives.
• Ability to influence/persuade others, negotiate effectively with diverse groups of high-level individuals, and create buy-in for services, programs, and initiatives.
• Ability to effectively lead, direct, develop and evaluate the work of subordinate management staff and matrixed managers reporting to other functional leaders.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate results to determine whether activities effectively address and support business objectives, and produce the expected outcomes and return-on-investment.
• Ability to strategize, develop, implement and evaluate business plans, initiatives, standards, and policies/procedures.
• Ability to identify budget variances, compliance deficiencies and/or systemic weaknesses and implement timely corrective action/performance improvement to forestall or remedy.
• Ability to keep abreast of trends, emerging technologies, best practices and new/changing regulatory requirements impacting matters within designated scope of authority.
• Ability to convey information effectively in verbal and written communication, and through group/business presentations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as required by the duties of the position, and to work effectively with key stakeholders/constituencies in all aspects of ACO/CIN management.
• Ability to use office equipment and automated systems/applications/software at an acceptable level of proficiency.