CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (REQ 4019)

POSITION PURPOSE:

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) plays a significant role in developing, designing, and improving the systems of South Peninsula Hospital to deliver the best medical treatment, thereby improving clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction while reducing extraneous budget costs.  The COO works with other executives to integrate clinical and support service operations with the facility’s overall strategic vision.  The COO provides leadership, direction and administration of ancillary departments as well as Plant.  The COO effectively communicates operational information to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Board of Directors, Medical Staff and the organization’s line managers and leads the effort to meet Quality Improvement metrics in these areas.

The COO promotes the accomplishment of the hospital’s mission, vision, values, and strategic goals by ensuring the healthcare facility delivers efficient services that satisfy patient needs.  The COO develops and implements policies and systems needed to ensure ancillary and outpatient clinic operations are safe, producing good financial results, and building the facility’s excellent service culture.  The COO will meet regularly with department heads to stay up-to-date on daily healthcare operations and create standardized protocols to prioritize accountability and performance management.  The COO will also maintain regular contact with physicians and the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) to ensure adequate coverage exists to meet patient needs by providing personalized, high quality, locally coordinated healthcare.  One of the COOs responsibilities will be the continuous management of new and existing provider contracts.

The COO establishes and maintains effective working relationships with the Kenai Peninsula Borough, the South Kenai Peninsula Hospital Service Area Board, and the City of Homer to promote the accomplishment of the Hospital’s strategic vision.  The COO must be an effective communicator and assist department managers to effectively leading their teams and meet the operational goals and metrics set forth by the CEO.  The COO is expected to act in the absence of the CEO.  The COO will exercise management responsibility over assigned areas of the hospital ensuring efficient services that are designed to meet the needs of patients, physicians, the public and staff.

The COO will support, model, and lead with South Peninsula Hospital’s Values and Behaviors: Compassion, Respect, Trust, Teamwork, and Commitment.

NATURE AND SCOPE: 

The Chief Operating Officer position is a senior management level position operating within the parameters established by State and Federal guidelines and hospital policy. The Chief Operating Officer reports to the Chief Executive Officer.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree with a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration and Leadership preferred, and 10 or more years of progressive healthcare management experience. 
• A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives is also preferred. 
• The COO must have analytical skills to effectively review and synthesize clinical, financial, and legal documents.

ENVIRONMENT: 

South Peninsula Hospital (SPH) is a 22 bed Acute Care facility co-located with a 28 bed Long Term Care facility located at the southern end of the Kenai Peninsula. The facility is 75 miles from the nearest hospital and 225 miles from a tertiary care center. Homer is a northern maritime environment that presents a unique set of environmental challenges in maintaining 24 hour a day 7 day a week operations. The working environment requires that this position be able to talk or hear; walk, sit, lift and/or move up to 25 pounds; Working hours are usually during the day, but may fluctuate, depending on situations that may arise.  The COO may encounter varying and unpredictable situations; mental and emotional stress; emergency and crisis situations; frequent interruptions and changes in priorities and at times; long, irregular hours.