Description

The Opportunity

Chief Quality Officer, University of Colorado Hospital

The Chief Quality Officer (CQO) at the University of Colorado Hospital is a key member of the senior leadership team for UCHealth's academic medical center (AMC). The Chief Quality Officer will provide vision, leadership and oversight for the quality program across the inpatient and ambulatory footprint for the AMC, in alignment with the mission, vision, values and goals of the UCHealth System. This individual will be responsible for identifying opportunities for improvement and developing and executing quality and safety initiatives that support the overall system strategic direction. In partnership with the University of Colorado senior leadership team, this role will involve creating and maintaining strategic and operational alignment across multiple academic departments within the University of Colorado School of Medicine (CUSOM) and between CUSOM and the health system at large. The Chief Quality Officer will collaborate with organizational leaders to ensure the delivery of exceptional care and patient experience across the continuum and throughout the whole of the UCHealth system.

Reporting Relationships

Reports directly to: UCHealth System Chief Quality Officer

Matrix reporting with: University of Colorado Hospital Chief Medical Officer

Specific Responsibilities

• Responsible for developing and executing a quality and safety program that supports the overall system mission, vision and strategic priorities.

• Provides the vision, leadership and oversight of the quality program to promote safety, effectiveness, efficiency and high reliability across the University of Colorado Hospital care continuum.

• Identifies key areas of opportunity throughout the region and works in conjunction with the executive team and medical staff leadership to develop and implement improvement initiatives.

• Leads local implementation of system-driven quality and safety priorities.

• Oversees and coordinates the integration of key functions in partnership with other key leaders including but not limited to Infection Prevention, Epidemiology, Regulatory Affairs, Professional Practice Evaluation and Peer Learning, Risk Management and Patient Relations

• Serves as a subject matter expert and resource for process improvement, clinical safety, and regulatory issues. Participates in activities related to accreditation and clinical guidelines, in collaboration with the Chief Medical Officer and the medical executive committee.

• Responsible for the development, mentoring, and coaching of quality and safety leaders across the University of Colorado Hospital care continuum, including serving in a more consultative capacity for quality-related roles embedded within academic departments.

• Develops succession planning and promotional pathways for top talent to ensure the continuity of strong and effective leadership within the quality program.

• Collaborates across multiple functions and disciplines to ensure a dynamic and tireless focus on quality and safety throughout the organization.

• Reports on sentinel events and leads the medical staff as champions of process improvement efforts.

• Fosters collaborative relationships with external agencies on quality and safety initiatives, including purchasers, government agencies, and other stakeholders.

• Develops quality department budgets. Provides input into major capital expenses that impact the quality and safety of clinical care.

Candidate Qualifications

The culture at UCHealth is collaborative and results driven. Each member has high expectations for themselves and their colleagues and is willing to hold themselves and others accountable within the context of a Just Culture framework. This individual will be joining a high performing, fast-paced team and, as such, we have outlined characteristics that describe the ideal candidate for the University of Colorado Hospital role:

Successful candidates will be comfortable working in a fast-paced, high acuity, highly matrixed academic organization. They will exude integrity, honesty, respect, trust, authenticity and high ethical standards and serve in a supportive, open and direct manner. Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written, are a must.

The successful candidate will meet the following requirements:

Education/Certification

• Graduate of an accredited medical school

• 5 years of relevant experience within progressive medical leadership roles, preferably related to quality and safety

• Unrestricted Colorado Board of Medical Examiners physician license

• Unrestricted DEA permit to prescribe all medications commonly prescribed in the course of practice

• Board certified in a clinical specialty area

• Medical staff membership at a system hospital or other medical staff affiliated with the system, with appropriate CORE practice privileges.

Qualifications, Skills and Traits

Skills and Abilities:

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, critical thinking skills and decisive judgment are key competencies. Candidates should be able to work in a complex, highly matrixed, fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.

• High level of comfort leading through change, with a solid understanding and application of change management strategies.

• Must be able to lead and support continuous process improvement, utilizing benchmarked data (where possible) to continually achieve higher levels of excellence while creating value.

• Ability to rally physicians and other stakeholders through championing service excellence and promoting UCHealth Standards of Excellence.

UCHealth offers their employees a competitive and comprehensive total rewards package:

• Full medical, dental and vision coverage

• Retirement plans to include 403(b) matching

• Paid time off. Start your employment at UCHealth with PTO in your bank

• Employer-paid life and disability insurance with additional buy-up coverage options

• Tuition and continuing education reimbursement

• Wellness benefits

• An annual bonus may be paid to eligible employees based upon organizational and individual performance.

• Full suite of voluntary benefits such as identity theft protection and pet insurance

• Education benefits for employees, including the opportunity to be eligible for 100% of tuition, books and fees paid for by UCHealth for specific educational degrees. Other programs may also qualify for up to $5,250 pre-paid by UCHealth or in the form of tuition reimbursement each calendar year

Loan Repayment:

• UCHealth is a qualifying employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program! UCHealth provides employees with free assistance navigating the PSLF program to submit their federal student loans for forgiveness through Savi.

UCHealth always welcomes talent. This position will be open for a minimum of three days and until a top applicant is identified.

UCHealth recognizes and appreciates the rich array of talents and perspectives that equal employment and diversity can offer our institution. As an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, UCHealth is committed to making all employment decisions based on valid requirements. No applicant shall be discriminated against in any terms, conditions or privileges of employment or otherwise be discriminated against because of the individual's race, creed, color, religion, gender, national origin or ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, genetic information or veteran status. UCHealth does not discriminate against any "qualified applicant with a disability" as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act and will make reasonable accommodations, when they do not impose an undue hardship on the organization.