Chief Quality Officer

Chief Quality Officer    

Responsible for direction, coordination, and oversight of quality improvement, patient safety, and performance improvement functions for all System Affiliates, including two hospitals, one of which is the John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County; an ambulatory and community health network comprised of multiple clinics; an infectious disease ambulatory center, a correctional healthcare facility, and the Cook County Department of Public Health. The mission of the System is to provide high quality, safe care to the residents of Cook County regardless of ability to pay.

This position is exempt from Career Service under the CCH Personnel Rules.

General Administrative Responsibilities

Collective Bargaining

• Review applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements and consult with Labor Relations to generate management proposals
• Participate in collective bargaining negotiations, caucus discussions and working meetings

Discipline

• Document, recommend and effectuate discipline at all levels
• Work closely with labor relations and/or labor counsel to effectuate and enforce applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements
• Initiate, authorize and complete disciplinary action pursuant to CCH system rules, policies, procedures and provision of applicable collective bargaining agreements

Supervision

• Direct and effectuate CCH management policies and practices
• Access and proficiently navigate CCH records system to obtain and review information necessary to execute provisions of applicable collective bargaining agreements

Management

• Contribute to the management of CCH staff and CCH’ systemic development and success
• Discuss and develop CCH system policy and procedure
• Consistently use independent judgment to identify operational staffing issues and needs and perform the following functions as necessary; hire, transfer, suspend, layoff, recall, promote, discharge, assign, direct or discipline employees pursuant to applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements
• Work with Labor Relations to discern past practice when necessary

Typical Duties

Responsible for directing all quality management, performance improvement and patient safety activities including accreditation standards, regulatory requirements and organizational performance improvement. This professional will have a working relationship to the Clinical Leadership throughout CCHHS and specifically have responsibility for:

• Establishing and maintaining efficient and reliable mechanisms for monitoring, analysis and reporting of quality outcomes and clinical performance improvement initiatives, in alignment with regulatory standards and healthcare best practices for quality improvement and patient safety initiatives
• Providing a planned, efficient, system-wide approach to identifying, designing, measuring, prioritizing and monitoring all quality improvement and patient safety
• Collaborating with medical staff and operational leadership to develop and facilitate evidence-based quality and patient safety initiatives
• Reporting to Executive Leadership and the Quality Committee of the Board
• Supporting the CCHHS' Quality Performance Council
• Engaging staff at all levels as participants in a continual pursuit of improvement opportunities
• Providing leadership and focus on performance excellence for patient satisfaction and regulatory compliance
• Establishing appropriate reporting tools for clinical and medical staff services
• Preparing and interpreting reports, summaries and statistical data including system-wide performance improvement summaries to identify trends and make recommendations for improvement, including but not limited to sentinel events, Root Cause Analysis and Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA) processes
• Assuring a common standard of care and service throughout the System
• Coordinating system-wide accreditation readiness activities

Reporting Relationship

Reports to the Chief Medical Officer

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master's degree in Healthcare Administration or other health related field
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in progressively more responsible healthcare leadership positions
• Experience in an academic or large teaching facility that incorporates both hospital and ambulatory sites
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal, state and local requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in managing and working towards achieving quality related awards (i.e. Magnet, Baldridge, etc.).
• Ten years of experience in progressively more responsible healthcare leadership positions
• Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) or Health Care Quality Management (HCQM)

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

• The ability to consistently support quality and patient safety by maintaining confidentiality, protecting the assets of the System, acting with ethics and integrity, reporting non-compliance, and adhering to applicable Federal and State laws and regulations, accreditation and licensure requirements and System policies and procedures
• Experience in directing/leading a quality improvement program in a multi-site health system or equivalent setting
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with hospital regulatory and accreditation requirements
• Demonstrated experience in performance improvement techniques, leading and training in performance improvements
• Working knowledge and expertise with Root Cause Analysis development
• Excellent communication skills to prepare written materials and to correspond with administrative personnel, System personnel and the general public
• Highly developed interpersonal skills
• Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite

Physical and Environmental Demands

This position is functioning within a healthcare environment.  The incumbent is responsible for adherence to all hospital and department specific safety requirements.  This includes but is not limited to the following policies and procedures:  complying with Personal Protective Equipment requirements, hand washing and sanitizing practices, complying with department specific engineering and work practice controls and any other work area safety precautions as specified by hospital wide policy and departmental procedures.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the personnel so classified.

For purposes of the American with Disabilities Act, “Typical Duties” are essential job functions.

Interested Candidates should send a CV and cover letter to: mgmtrecruit@cookcountyhhs.org

Cook County Health is an equal opportunity employer.