Chief Operating Officer

Overview

The Chief Operating Officer (COO), in dyad partnership with the hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), is responsible and accountable for the safe and effective day-to-day operation of the assigned hospital. The COO has direct responsibility for overseeing multiple hospital departments and functions and is accountable for advancing organizational performance across the domains of the Triple Aim: patient safety and quality, service, and financial performance.

• Develops, nurtures, and improves a safe and cost-effective clinical culture that produces predictable patient outcomes.
• Develops, nurtures, and improves a service culture that supports and engages employees, medical staff, patients, and the community.
• Develops, nurtures, and improves a cost-effective operating culture that achieves established objectives.

At all times, the COO conducts themself in accordance with ARH’s behavioral standards and performs duties in compliance with applicable laws, rules, regulations, accreditation standards, and the policies and procedures of the assigned hospital, region, and system.

 

Responsibilities

Beyond those outlined above, the primary duties of the COO are generally described below. These essential functions are not intended to be, and should not be considered, a comprehensive list of duties or expectations.

• Hospital Performance: Responsible and accountable for the performance of assigned departments and functions. Develops and implements strategies and plans to achieve established performance objectives across all domains of the Triple Aim.
• Patient Safety and Quality: Responsible and accountable for developing and sustainably improving a clinical culture within assigned departments and functions that is safe, efficient, and consistently produces expected patient outcomes in a cost-effective manner.
• Accreditation: Responsible and accountable for ensuring compliance with all applicable standards of accrediting and regulatory agencies (e.g., The Joint Commission, DNV, CMS, OIG, etc.). Maintains continuous accreditation readiness within assigned departments and functions, regardless of whether surveys are planned or unannounced.
• Service and Engagement: Responsible and accountable for sustainably improving employee, medical staff, and patient engagement and loyalty throughout the assigned hospital.
• Financial Effectiveness: Responsible and accountable for developing and sustaining an operating culture that conducts daily activities efficiently and cost-effectively while achieving established financial performance objectives.
• Medical Staff Relations: Responsible and accountable for developing, nurturing, and maintaining meaningful relationships with members of the medical staff and other healthcare providers, both independent and employed.
• Market Relevance: Participates in all strategic planning activities of the assigned hospital and supports all approved strategies and initiatives intended to enhance the hospital’s role and relevance within the communities it serves.
• Corporate Citizenship: Responsible and accountable for demonstrating effective corporate citizenship, including compliance with organizational policies, procedures, behavioral standards, and expectations. Responsible for working effectively within ARH’s matrixed reporting structure, collaborating with local, regional, and system-level resources, and supporting initiatives that maximize the value of system integration and collaboration.
• Community Citizenship: Conducts oneself in a personal and professional manner consistent with ARH’s behavioral standards. Develops and maintains constructive relationships with community stakeholders and represents the organization positively within the community.

All policies, procedures, practices, and standards referenced in this document are subject to change. Adherence to any revisions remains the responsibility and accountability of the COO.

Likewise, responsibilities, duties, and reporting relationships referenced in this document may change as organizational needs evolve. Any such changes remain subject to the responsibilities, accountabilities, and provisions outlined in this position description.

 

 

Qualifications

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities• Ability to inspire and lead others, the humility to listen to and follow others, and the knowledge and discipline to know when to do which;• Ability to adapt to and manage change in a timely and effective way;• Ability to manage and mitigate conflict, including situations where COO is a party to said conflict;• Courage to challenge established norms (policies, procedures, practices, directives, etc.) in an appropriate and impactful way;• Humility to accept and embrace regional- or system-level strategies and endeavors which may from time to time be uncomfortable;• Courage to ask for resources or help when necessary to accomplish established objectives or other expectations;• Ability to think strategically to find novel solutions to complex problems;• Energy, focus and aptitude necessary to effectively fulfil the duties of the role;• Ability to surround a problem with the right people to affect a timely and effective solution;• Ability to manage difficulty and crisis in a measured and effective manner, relying on data and counsel where able; and• Possess an action-oriented disposition, relying on data and counsel where possible.

 

Education• COO will be a graduate of an accredited college or university with a master’s degree in Hospital Administration, Business Administration, or other relevant field of study.

Minimum Work Experience• Minimum of three (3) to five (5) years’ experience in senior-level roles within a healthcare facility.