Associate Chief Quality Officer

At Houston Methodist, the Associate Chief Quality Officer (ACQO) plays a critical leadership role in advancing the organization's vision and strategy for clinical quality, patient safety, value-based care, and high reliability. Working in close partnership with the hospital CEO, System Chief Quality Officers, Chief Medical Officer, quality leadership, and physician leaders across the system, the ACQO supports the development and execution of strategies and goals that drive exceptional quality outcomes and foster a culture of safety and continuous improvement.

The ACQO leads efforts to embed safe, reliable, and evidence-based processes into the delivery of care while promoting a Just Culture that values patient safety, clinical excellence, accountability, transparency, and continuous learning. In collaboration with quality and operational leaders, medical staff, and interdisciplinary teams, this role promotes the identification of organizational vulnerabilities, application of human factors and systems-based design principles, prevention of adverse events, and implementation of high-reliability practices that improve patient outcomes.

The ACQO leverages data, technology, and innovation to achieve organizational quality and safety goals and serves as a key physician leader and champion for quality improvement initiatives. In partnership with the assigned Chief Quality Officer and Chief Medical Officer, this position helps ensure Houston Methodist's resources are strategically aligned to support its mission, strengthen its leadership position in healthcare, and deliver exceptional value to the communities it serves. The ACQO also serves as the Chief Quality Officer designee, as appropriate.

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

PEOPLE

Builds Strategic Relationships: Identifies opportunities and proactively takes action to establish and strengthen strategic relationships between one’s area and other areas, teams, departments, and units to achieve organizational goals. Promotes teamwork within and across departments, actively participating in or leading efforts to facilitate process improvements as needed. (EF) Leads and Engages the Division: Provides leadership and effective communication to foster a competent, engaged, and positive division. Conducts regular department meetings to review operational matters, set divisional goals, and discuss system initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities. Promotes a positive environment that motivates team members and reinforces commitment to shared goals and organizational success. (EF) Provides leadership necessary to foster a high-performing physician culture that promotes collaboration, accountability, professional growth, academic excellence, and alignment with departmental and organizational strategic priorities. (EF)

SERVICE

Drives department service standards and activities to impact overall score for patient satisfaction, through role modeling and fostering accountability. (EF)

QUALITY/SAFETY

Promotes a Culture of Safety and Continuous Improvement: Employs a proactive, data-driven approach to optimize safe outcomes by applying high-reliability principles and fostering a fair and just culture. Demonstrates peer-to-peer accountability, identifying solutions to challenges through collaboration and implementing process improvements using standardized tools. Actively mitigates risks to patients and personnel by role modeling situational awareness and leveraging teachable moments to enhance safety. Fosters Psychological Safety and Risk Mitigation: Provides psychological safety within the organization, encouraging team members to “stop the line” if unsafe conditions are identified. Ensures timely reporting of errors and hazards to strengthen the organization’s safety culture and promote continuous quality improvement. Leads Change and Quality Initiatives: Utilizes Change Management principles to drive improvements and advance organizational quality goals. Promotes situational awareness and continuous learning by integrating safety practices into daily operations.

FINANCE

Collaborates with medical staff, including full-time and voluntary faculty, as well as administration, both collectively and individually, to ensure the effective and appropriate utilization of hospital services and resources. (EF) Partners with executive team to develop, understand, and manage the budget. Plans and organizes areas of responsibility to achieve operational and strategic objectives while maintaining adherence to budgetary constraints. (EF)

GROWTH/INNOVATION

Leads Innovation and Education: Collaborates with System Executives, including Chairs and colleagues (as appropriate), to develop innovative educational programs that align with evolving requirements and paradigms for the assigned division. Participates in speaking engagements, presentations, and educational rounds, both in-person and virtual, to enhance departmental and system-wide initiatives. (EF) Drives Process Improvement and Strategic Growth: Proactively evaluates and refines processes, recommending and implementing action plans for change. Contributes to the development, implementation, and revision of procedures to ensure efficiency and alignment with organizational goals. Supports the strategic growth of service line access and complexity, engaging in innovative models of care and community service delivery. (EF)

This job description is not intended to be all inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

• MD/DO
• Active license to practice medicine in Texas
• Board Certified in applicable specialty

Experience in leading large quality initiatives or experience in a quality role is preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Demonstrates the ability to interact with others in a way that gives them confidence in one’s intentions and those of the organization
• Knowledge of EMR, EPIC preferred
• Ability to use appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas or plans; modifying one’s own behavior to accommodate tasks, situations and individuals involved
• Demonstrates leadership qualities and critical thinking through self-direction initiative and effective interpersonal skills and oral/written communication skills
• Ability to identify and understand issues, problems and opportunities, comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; taking action that is consistent with available facts, constraints and probable consequences
• Extensive knowledge of regulatory and accreditation agency requirements that impact department; stays abreast of industry changes
• Demonstrates highly effective communication skills—strong written communications and platform presentation abilities
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability in the workplace
• Capable of leading teams/facilitating groups, building consensus and garnering highest confidence in professionalism and work product by senior leadership
• Ability to work under pressure and balance many competing priorities; highly responsive and solution/action oriented
• Maintains a positive and supportive attitude and demeanor
• Professional handling of exposure to confidential/sensitive information