Career Center

Job Title: Chief Medical Officer                                          

Reports To: Executive Director

Classification: Exempt

Salary: $210,000 - $240,000

Schedule: 40 hours/week (50% patient care hours (20)/50% admin hours (20))

Date Prepared/Updated: 08/2023

The mission of the health center is to provide patient-centered healthcare that is accessible and affordable for all.

The vision of the health center is to be the best place to receive and deliver quality healthcare that advances the well-being of our diverse community.

Our health center values teamwork, excellence, accountability, and our mission.

This document is intended to describe the general duties required of this position and evaluation elements associated with the position.  It is not intended to serve as an exhaustive list of all duties, skills and responsibilities.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ROLE AND DUTIES 

• The role of Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at the health center is to both provide high-quality primary health care services to patients of the Center utilizing a team- based model to support the Mission and Vision of our health center and ensure that the entire provider care delivery team meets this standard.
• The CMO is a practicing provider and as such, utilizes the health center-supported electronic health record as a means of documenting and reviewing patient care services rendered or ordered.
• The Chief Medical Officer role models processes that seek to achieve the access to care, PCMH model of care delivery, quality outcome metrics and patient satisfaction goals established by the health center.
• The Chief Medical Officer has formal supervisory authority over all other health center medical providers.
• The Chief Medical Officer is a member of the Executive Leadership team at our health center. The CMO drives integration of all healthcare services to achieve strategic goals and objectives; monitors for need and provides counsel and consultation to other provider staff in order to achieve the best possible clinical outcomes for health center patients.
• The Chief Medical Officer participates in and leads the peer review efforts of the health center.
• The CMO provides appropriate follow-up, training, professional coaching, and support needed by the health center provider team based on peer review findings.
• The CMO heads the Quality Improvement Committee and supports all QI initiatives that are deemed appropriate by the health center team.
• The CMO works collaboratively with all members of the Executive Leadership Team, Clinical Directors, and managers to coordinate both the delivery as well as training of provider and clinical staff to support the delivery of services to patients of the health center.
• The CMO collaborates most closely with the Chief Operations Officer to meet clinical strategic goals.
• The CMO is responsible for completing annual performance evaluations for all medical provider staff and to provide input /feedback on performance evaluations on all clinical staff.
• The Chief Medical Officer is authorized to work in any location associated with the health center and approved within the scope of our health center by HRSA.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR POSITION

• Maintains federal, state, and professional licenses/qualifications to maintain scope of practice in Virginia.
• Unrestricted license to practice medicine in the Commonwealth of Virginia. DEA license to prescribe medicine. Board certification in chosen field of practice. Cannot be sanctioned under Medicaid or Medicare.
• Current CPR (BLS) certification is required.
• Hearing: Adequate to perform the essential functions of the job, such as auscultating blood pressure, ability to hear soft voices.
• Speaking: Adequate to perform the essential functions of the job, such as clearly communicating instructions, performing assessments, taking patient history, relaying information to multiple personnel, patients, and their families. The ability to speak English is required.
• Vision: Visual acuity within normal limits. Ability to see communication in electronic and written form required.
• Other: Must be able to prioritize, have cognitive reasoning, able to mathematically calculate for drug therapy. This role is a moderately active role, which requires the ability to lift and/or move items up to 25 pounds, bending and standing as necessary. Must be able to lift, carry, and handle equipment, supplies, and other work site materials based on position duty requirements.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel.
• Comfortable and effective in a fast-paced, accountability-focused, and mission-driven organization.
• Commitment to the mission of the community health center.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Administrative

• As a member of the Executive Leadership team, the CMO works with members of this team to ensure safe, efficient, effective processes are in place to support care delivery.
• Participates in process evaluation and process improvement efforts while working with various members of the leadership team, provider team, and health center staff.
• Coaches, counsels, and directs the practice efforts of all medical providers working with health center patients.
• Provides advice and counsel to the Executive Director, CFO, COO, and Board of Directors on medical practice issues, clinical operational process, growth, and strategic planning initiatives.
• Participates in all recruitment, interviewing, and retention efforts for the provider team members.
• Works collaboratively with the Director of HR, Risk and Compliance, Executive Director, and CFO in dealing with performance improvement, compliance, and/or disciplinary issues involving providers.
• Represents our health center in public forums in support of the organization's mission, vision, and values.
• Participates in leadership development training opportunities that support the leadership role of the Chief Medical Officer at the health center.
• Seeks clarification, listens, and conveys information clearly, in written and verbal form.
• Responds appropriately to patient complaints and takes effective corrective action when necessary.
• Demonstrates ability to implement problem-solving mechanisms in both routine and emergency situations.
• In conjunction with the members of the clinical provider team and the Executive Leadership team, participates in developing, executing, and periodically reviewing the center's written policies and services consistent with HRSA and other regulatory agency guidance.
• Participates in the development, execution, and annual review of the written policies/procedures covering the services provided/participates in reviews of patient health records and utilization review studies of health center services.
• Conduct assessments as part of Quality Assurance Plan to ensure maintenance of quality controls as necessary for compliance with standards established by federal, state, and other regulatory agencies.
• The CMO is present for sufficient periods to provide the medical direction, medical care services, consultation, and supervision of the provider team members. Is available through direct telecommunication for consultation, assistance with medical emergencies, or patient referral.
• Precepts health professions students as able without compromising the quality of patient care or significantly impacting health center productivity.

Clinical Care Delivery

• Provides comprehensive primary care within the regulatory guidelines including performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and prescribing and administering medical treatment and medications to include:
  • Perform complete screening examinations and routine examinations that reflect the nature of the patient visit supports the diagnoses and plan and promotes good health.
  • Order, perform, and interpret routine laboratory tests; notify patients of results as appropriate.
  • Assess information and/or symptoms of patient by phone and prescribing treatment or referral to other appropriate resources if indicated.
  • Consult and instruct patients regarding care to facilitate recovery and promote patient self-care at home. Encourage wellness and restoration through continued follow-up care.
  • Refer patients for specialized care, evaluation, and diagnostics based upon an identified need.
  • Maintain a system for accurately recording and reporting patient conditions in the medical record; assure medical records are transferred as required when patients are referred; participate in an annual review for quality and completeness.
  • Determine routine medical orders.
• Collaborate/supervise with the physician assistant(s)/nurse practitioner(s) in order to plan and coordinate patient care.
• Assures that adequate patient health records are maintained and transferred as required when patients are referred.
• Information given to patients is clear and understandable by the patient.
• Performs all job activities in ways that are respectful, courteous, and responsive.
• Interacts with coworkers in a respectful, supportive, and cooperative way.
• The dignity, confidentiality, and privacy of patients is respected and is consistent with HIPAA guidelines.
• Information from medical records is released only in accordance to state regulations and HIPAA guidelines.
• Information given is clear and understood by the patient.
• Performs all job activities in ways that are respectful, courteous, and responsive.
• Interacts with coworkers in a respectful, supportive, and cooperative way.
• The dignity, confidentiality, and privacy of patients is respected and is consistent with HIPAA guidelines.
• Information from medical records is released only in accordance to state regulations and HIPAA guidelines.

Quality Programming

• Supports the center in providing all required primary, preventive, enabling health services and other health services as appropriate, either directly or through written arrangements, and referrals
• Supports the center in providing services at times and locations that assure accessibility and meet the needs of its target population
• Ensures that the center provides professional coverage for medical emergencies during hours when it is closed
• Ensures that the center has an ongoing Quality Improvement / Quality Assurance program by focusing support for quality care delivery
• Ensures that the center has periodic assessment of appropriate utilization of services and quality of services proposed to be provided by the health center
• Ensures that the center assures the confidentiality of patient records
• Ensures that Patient Satisfaction is tracked, monitored, and used for continuous improvement

Strategic Vision

• Assists in development of the Strategic Plan and supports its execution
• Promotes growth and innovation through operational initiatives and goals
• Identifies local, state and national trends that could affect the health center’s operational performance and works to mitigate risk or take advantage of an opportunity

Public Image and Community Relations

• Supports efforts of the center to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with other health care providers including other health centers, in the service area of the center
• Pursues available funding sources that augment the ability of the health center to meet the needs of its membership and enhance the mission, objectives, and activities of the center
• Serves as the principal liaison with relevant governmental entities pertinent to the oversight and delivery of medical care
• Supports health center involvement in the development and implementation of local, state, and federal health policies that affect the membership and mission of the center.
• Responsible for a positive corporate image in the local community including with governmental agencies, health care providers, business community, vendors, and partner organizations

General

• Wears appropriate clothing for job functions.
• Works at maintaining a good rapport and a cooperative working relationship within the health center
• Complies with all organizational policies regarding ethical business practice
• Team-based communication demonstrates intolerance of office gossip
• Verbal and behavioral performance supports “managing up” of all team members
• Must demonstrate personal and professional commitment to the mission of the health center. 

About Community Health Center

Virginia Community Healthcare Association (VCHA) is a non-profit membership organization that serves as the primary care association for Virginia’s thirty community health centers and look-alike health centers. Membership in VCHA is open to all Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alikes operating delivery sites in Virginia. VCHA supports our health centers in their mission to provide access to health care regardless of geographic location or ability to pay.

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