Chief Medical Officer: CHRISTUS Children's Hospital

Summary:

This position assumes overall accountability for oversight of all medical practices and clinical quality along with related activities within the ministry. The position functions as the liaison between the academic affiliations, ministry Medical Staff, and Chief Executive Officer at CHRISTUS Children’s. In addition to ministry responsibilities, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) will support System-level initiatives as they relate to the ministry or to CHRISTUS Health on a strategic level. For those System sponsored programs, the CMO will be accountable to the CHRISTUS Health System Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer. This position is accountable for serving as a catalyst for the development of pediatric practice guidelines and care protocols that lead to the achievement of quality biomedical/service outcomes and cost efficiencies. The CMO will enter into a “dyad” relationship with the Chief Nursing Officer of CHRISTUS Children’s to assure a multidisciplinary approach to clinical care involving Nursing, providers, and other professional support staff to work seamlessly in the delivery of family-centered care. Additionally, the CMO is accountable for continuous quality improvement and clinical loss prevention functions as they relate to clinical practice and patient safety.  The CMO should collaborate with Baylor College of Medicine’s Associate Dean, Department Chairs, Chiefs of Service, and with Medical Staff leaders to build and maintain a high-performing physician and provider culture. This position will oversee the care management and quality management functions of the ministry and actively participates and contributes to the Quality and Patient Safety Committee.

Education:

• M.D. or D.O. required
• State medical license

Experience:

• Ten (10) or more years of pediatric clinical practice experience
• Considerable medical experience in one or more branches of pediatric medicine or surgery and some administrative experience in a medical department.
• Experience in academic medicine preferred

Skills:

• Strong leadership, organization, management, communication, negotiation, and analytic skills.

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications:

• Board Certification by one of the American Boards of Medical Specialties.

Major Responsibilities:

• Assists local management and clinical leadership in the development and application of provider-focused interventions and decision support tools (i.e., best practice guidelines, drug formularies, care process maps, referral guidelines, case management, and utilization review).
• Applying High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles, collaborates with provider and physician leadership to create and implement robust systems that fully integrate clinical care, process improvement and outcomes measurement, and reimbursement strategies across the care continuum.
• Exercises a substantial collaborative role in the development and recruitment of physicians for the Medical Staff.
• Contributes in a substantive manner to the development and implementation of the strategic plan within the overall mission. 
• Demonstrates full support of the CHRISTUS Health Mission, Values & Vision. Uses position and job responsibilities as a unique means for integrating values into the work process and for making a positive contribution to the organization’s culture and climate.
• Collaborates with System Medical Director to gain physician support for clinical programs, quality initiatives, and physician leadership development programs as appropriate for CHRISTUS Health.
• Actively participates with other clinical, quality and other CHRISTUS Health councils to support and promote a truly interdisciplinary, holistic approach to care across the continuum of patient needs.
• Participates in CHRISTUS CMO activities under the direction of the CHRISTUS Health Senior Vice President, Chief Medical Officer.