Chief Operating Officer

Founded in 1955 Dignity Health – Northridge Hospital Medical Center is a 394-bed acute care nonprofit community hospital located in Northridge California. The hospital offers a full complement of award winning services including the Leavey Cancer Center a cardiovascular center stroke center the Center for Assault Treatment Services a pediatric medical center and the only pediatric trauma center in the San Fernando Valley. As a leading provider of compassionate high-quality and affordable patient-centered care we share a rich legacy with Dignity Health one of the nation’s five largest health care systems. We are part of a 21-state network of nearly 9000 physicians 62000 employees and more than 400 care centers. Visit dignityhealth.org/northridgehospital for more information.

The Chief Operating Officer is responsible for providing clinical, and administrative direction for hospital operations. The position is assigned responsibility for building the culture/ environment, transmitting
values, developing and implementing standards and programs as well as achieving hospital goals. This position assists and advises the President/Chief Executive Officer in implementing hospital policies and strategic business plans to achieve objectives established by the Board of Directors. In the absence of the President/Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the overall operations of the medical center.  Chief Operating Officer will also have administrative responsibility and responsible for providing direction for the following areas / service lines: Imaging Services, Cancer Center (Cancer Registry, Cancer Research, Navigator Program, Surgical Oncology, and Radiation Oncology), Gamma Knife Services and Perioperative Services (PACU, Short Stay, Main Surgery, Da Vinci Services), Palliative Care, Pain Management and chronic Disease Transitional Care Services. Acts as a catalyst between hospital departments, physicians and staff to ensure continuity and quality of service and care.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Participates in the development of short and long term planning objectives that will assure the continued growth of the hospital and the provision of healthcare services required by the community; implements plans as approved by the governing board.
• Creates an environment and culture that is conducive to implementation of the organizational goals and strategic plan as defined by the Board of Directors
• Assumes the responsibilities of the Chief Executive Officer in his/her absence and represents the hospital and Chief Executive Officer at various external governmental and professional association meeting and committees.
• Collaborates with leadership from governing board, management and medical staff to realize operational strategies and outcomes.
• Retains authority and accountability for the development and implementation of the organization plan for the provision of patient care and scope of services for the hospital and reporting departments.
• Plays a key role in developing a strong customer service orientation that will lead to improved relationships with both internal and external customers.
• Ensures that all organization activities and operations are carried out in compliance with local, state and federal regulations, TJC Standards and laws governing healthcare operations.
• Participates in facility planning, evaluation of new programs, and promotion of centers of excellence.
• Promotes appropriate utilization of all services through active participation in business development.
• Provides expertise to physicians and their staff on essential steps for developing affiliated group practices and strategically addressing basic operational issues related to managed care under capitation.
  
• Implements managed care contracting strategies that translate into increased patient/payor satisfaction and marketshare.
• Enhances hospital approach to managed care that is appropriate within the context of both the organization and the community
• Insures through the Department Management that clinical needs of the hospital are met through coordination with respective nursing directors and CNO; oversees the installation of required technologies and maintenance of high quality technical skills by employees within clinical departments.
• Assists in the medical staff activities to include representation at medical staff committees as assigned, coordination and implementation of medical policies through the hospital and insuring appropriate  medical staff input to internal hospital operational management issues and planning.
• Assumes responsibility for the coordination of clinical process management and clinical case management activities; insures adoption of best practice strategies.
• Implements effective, ongoing programs to measure, assess, and improve the quality of patient care delivered to patients in addition to collaborating with other organizational leaders in planning, promoting, and conducting organization wide performance improvement activities.
• Makes fundamental clinical improvements using comparative information and benchmarking.
• Organizes the functions in areas of responsibility through appropriate organization design and delegation of duties; maintains effective communication within and between departments.
• Monitors overall productivity of respective areas of responsibility; improves productivity through consolidation of activities, delegation of functions, and/or implements alternatives in skill mix while ensuring competency of the care/service providers and without impacting quality of care/service.
• Oversees the management of any services contracted to third parties acting as an effective liaison with these companies.
• Conducts periodic cost benefit analysis to ascertain if these services remain in the hospital's best interest.
• Coordinates financial management activities in conjunction with the CFO within respective areas of responsibility including development of annual budgets, variance analysis and monthly financial reports; develops annual capital budgets and cost benefit analysis for new or expanding programs/services.
• Uses outcomes data and clinical/operational benchmarks to measure improvement, establish practice guidelines, and manage utilization of resources, and LOS.
• In concert with the CFO, implements systems for capital budget formulation, materials management and internal operations control.

Education and Experience:

• Masters degree in healthcare administration or a closely related field.
• Minimum of ten (10) years administrative management experience.

Licensure:

• None specified.