Chief Medical Officer - Saddleback Medical Center Saddleback Medical Center Laguna Hills, CA Finance

Chief Medical Officer

Location: Laguna Hills, CA

MemorialCare is a nonprofit integrated health system that includes four leading hospitals, award-winning medical groups consisting of over 200 sites of care, and more than 2,000 physicians throughout Orange and Los Angeles Counties. We are committed to increasing access to patient-centric, affordable, and high-quality healthcare; your personal contributions are integral to MemorialCare's recognition as a market leader and innovator in value-based and other care models.

Across our family of medical centers, we support each one of our bright, talented employees in reaching the highest levels of professional development, contribution, collaboration, and accountability. Whatever your role and whatever expertise you bring, we are dedicated to helping you achieve your full potential in an environment of respect, innovation, and teamwork.

Position Summary

The Chief Medical Officer serves as the physician executive leader responsible for clinical quality, utilization, with input into clinical operations, and strategy. This role ensures alignment between medical staff, operational leaders, hospital administration, and system-wide goals to enhance patient care, improve provider engagement, and drive excellence in clinical and operational performance. The CMO acts as the primary clinical voice in strategic planning and decision-making, fostering collaboration among physicians, medical teams, and executive leadership.

Essential Functions

Reporting Relationships: Responsible to CEO of SMC, working with SMC Senior Leadership (CNO, CFO, etc.) and dotted line to MHS CMO; works collaboratively with SMC Chief of Staff and/or designee

• Strategic thinking with the ability to align clinical goals with operational and financial objectives
• Leadership presence with the capacity to drive cultural transformation and high performance
• Data-driven decision-making to enhance quality outcomes and operational efficiency
• Ability to navigate complex healthcare environments and champion initiatives that benefit both providers and patients.

Key Responsibilities

Medical Staff Leadership:

• Foster clear understanding of the independent medical staff and its oversight of quality for SMC. Foster strong partnership with medical staff and administration for the betterment of SMC and MemorialCare as a whole.
• Serve as the executive liaison for medical staff communication, overseeing interactions with MEC.
• Champion physician wellbeing initiatives to support a sustainable and thriving medical workforce.

Assist in oversight of physician aspects of maintenance and/or acquisition of accreditation by regulatory agencies (e.g., CDPH, Joint Commission, DNV, etc.).

Function as primary contact to address operational physician issues

Participate in Senior Leadership Council meetings and other administrative meetings as appointed by CEO

Participate as a voting member of the Quality Committee of the Board and as an ex-officio member of the Orange County Board of Directors

Quality and Risk Management:

• Accountable for quality performance at the campus/entity, overseeing metrics such as quality (e.g., Vizient) scorecards.
• Partner with operations, nursing, and quality teams to establish and achieve clinical goals, improve patient and clinician safety, and reduce care variation.
• Serve as the High Reliability Organization (HRO) executive champion for providers.

Attends and participates in Performance Improvement Patient Safety Council (PIPS), MemorialCare Physician Society Board (as SMC CMO), and other relevant meetings.

Operations and Utilization Management:

• Ensure physician leadership in utilization management, driving key performance metrics such as length of stay.
• Act as the clinical partner in operational efficiency, improving ancillary services, patient flow, perioperative effectiveness, etc.

Strategic Leadership:

• Guide medical staff in alignment with hospital's mission, vision, and strategic goals.
• Represent the physician executive voice in campus/entity strategic planning.
• Communicate clinical implications of organizational strategies, ensuring alignment with patient care needs.
• Act as a bridge between medical staff and executive leadership to implement strategic visions effectively.
• Maintain an 80/20% focus on campus vs. system-wide initiatives, championing local needs while supporting broader organizational objectives.

*Placement in the pay range is based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, relevant years of experience and qualifications. In addition to base pay, there may be additional compensation available for this role, including but not limited to, shift differentials, extra shift incentives, and bonus opportunities. Health and wellness is our passion at MemorialCarethat includes taking good care of employees and their dependents. We offer high quality health insurance plan options, so you can select the best choice for your family. And there's more... Check out our MemorialCare Benefits for more information about our Benefits and Rewards.