Chief Medical Officer (CMO)

Job Purpose & Position Overview

The primary purpose is to create and sustain the healthiest Indigenous community in the United States. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO), administratively reporting to the CEO and working as a partner with the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), provides clinical oversight and direction to all aspects of the provision of medical care within the hospital and health system. The incumbent will provide direct supervision to the Medical Staff leadership over acute and ambulatory care and clinical and administrative support for related medical and ancillary specialties. Strives to create a patient centered, integrated, and coordinated system focused on achieving population health outcomes consistent with the WCHS mission and vision.


Specific Job Duties/Responsibilities:

• Responsible to the CEO and Governing Body for the oversite and management of the clinical staff; the quality and safety of care provided in all clinical settings; and the patients' experience of care provided in all settings.
• Assuring care is rendered in a culturally competent manner consistent with the needs and values of the Native American communities the institution serves.
• Collaborative member of the executive team including developing and implementing the strategic plan and goals of the organization.
• Acts as spokesman regarding clinical issues for WCHS in collaboration with the executive team and marketing/communications.
• Responsible for all roles as assigned or as delegated by the CEO under the medical staff bylaws including but not limited to leadership of the Medical Executive Committee, oversight and direction of the Medical Staff Office and all its functions, credentialing and re-credentialing, peer review, quality, and discipline.
• As designated by the CEO actively participate as a member of the committees deemed relevant to fulfilling the role of CMO including, but not limited to, Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Quality Management, Utilization Review, and others as assigned.
• Ensures the provision of quality health care services in accordance with all CMS conditions of participation and accreditation standards throughout the hospital departments under the CMO's scope of responsibilities and duties.
• Responsible for medical staff recruitment and ensure smooth execution of external medical staffing contracts.
• Assume a leadership role in the identification and prioritization of opportunities to improve quality and efficiency of care in conjunction with the quality department.
• Establish criteria for and consistently improve medical staff performance in key dimensions including clinical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and system-based practice.
• Responsible for the management and supervision of Medical Directors over acute, ambulatory, and behavioral health care and fulfilling their duties in their absence.
• Responsible for overseeing and direct supervision of educational activities for medical students, residency development, residents and other health professions.
• Oversee clinical telehealth programs designed to support and improve care.
• Facilitate and support the sustainment of Nebraska state trauma tier four designation.
• Ensure all policies and procedures are in place and followed by the medical staff and all departments directly under the incumbent's supervision.
• Support Medical Directors as they ensure all medical providers complete the proper documentation of medical records in a timely manner and are following applicable organization policies and procedures.
• With Purchased Referred Care (PRC) manager and case manager participate in the review of the PRC consultant referrals and ensure they are reviewed and approved or denied in a timely manner.
• Provide direct clinical services as agreed.
• Participate in morning rounds/huddles and as needed support effective and timely ED transfers and admissions to other hospitals.
• Develop and oversee external relationships to enhance the expansion of coordinated/integrated specialty care services at the hospital that will most benefit the patient population, improve the health status of the community, and build a stronger employed provider team.
• Actively participate in, encourage, and improve systems to expand knowledge and measurably improve population health through care and research with internal and external partners.
• Ability to assume the role of WCHS system CMO as it may evolve with time, including but not limited to clinical aspects of, behavioral health, alcohol and drug dependency, optometry, dentistry, elder care, EMS and overall patient centered integration of care within WCHS.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications/Skills:

• Must possess a valid unrestricted medical license in any U.S. state or Territory to practice as Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic (D.O.) and a valid Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) certification.
• Must have completed an approved Medical Residency Program and be board certified consistent with the medical staff bylaws in either Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, or Psychiatry.
• Must have a minimum of five years' experience as a licensed physician with a minimum of five years of supervisory and leadership experience in a hospital and ambulatory environment; Public health leadership experience preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to "Patient first" and patient centric systems of care.
• Strong leadership and communication skills in a culturally competent context consistent with the values of the Native American communities served.
• Demonstration of goal directed outcomes and performance deliverables in the arena of quality, safety, patient experience, employee engagement consistent with the Quadruple Aim required.
• Experience and demonstrated performance using quality tools to improve care is preferred (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma)
• Demonstration of strategic thinking and planning required.
• Experience working with Native American communities.

Training Requirements:

• Maintains licensure and certification.

Physical Requirements:

• Normal to light office work, which includes the ability to lift up to 10 lbs.
• Regularly required to walk, stand, and sit for extended periods of time and use hands to operate computer keyboard, phone, and various office equipment.

Cognitive Requirements:

• Strategic thinking.
• Reading, writing, calculating.
• Excellent social interaction skills.
• Reasoning/Analysis.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as a team.
• Works with minimal to no supervision.
• Advanced abstract thinking and internal locus of control.
• Resourceful and decisive when faced with unexpected challenges and or deadlines.
• Skilled at navigating complex and rapidly changing situations and adjusting priorities as needed.

Language Requirements:

• Must possess the ability to read, write, and speak the English language fluently.
• Must be able to continually and effectively employ professional verbal and written communications skills.

Certificates, Licenses & Registrations:

• All applicants will comply with 45 CFR 1301, Subpart D, Section 1301.31, C and D, which require all prospective employees to sign a declaration prior to employment regarding all arrests and convictions of child abuse or violent felonies and to comply with PL 101-630 and PL 101-637 regarding criminal records check.

WCHS is an equal opportunity employer. Employment practices are free of discrimination. As provided by Federal Law, all qualified Native American applicants shall receive preference over Non-Native American applicants. In the absence of qualified Native American applicants, consideration will be given to all other applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, disability or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.


Please note the position description duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.


WCHS is an equal opportunity employer.

All applicants must comply with 45 CFR 1301, Subpart D, Section 1301.31 C and D, which require all prospective employees to sign a declaration prior to employment regarding all arrests and convictions of child abuse or violent felonies and comply with PL 101-630 and PL 101-637 regarding criminal records check. As provided by Federal Law, all qualified Native American and Veteran applicants shall receive preference over Non-Native American applicants. In the absence of qualified Native American applicants, consideration will be given to all other applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender orientation/identity, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, disability or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits. WCHS participates in E-Verify.