Cardiovascular System Medical Director

Ithaca, New York
Cayuga Health System

The System Cardiovascular Service Line Medical Director serves as the clinical leader for strategic oversight, operational governance, and operational execution for the cardiovascular service line of Centralus Health. This position reports to Chief Operating Officer of Centralus Health or designee. The CV Medical Director will work closely with an administrative dyad partner and will collaborate with the hospital and medical group directors and leadership involved in the delivery of care within the CV clinical service line. The role is focused on the strategic development of the service line, identifying areas of opportunity to expand services provided to the community and improving patient access to services. The CV Medical Director is tasked with establishing a culture for evidence-based, collaborative clinical care and continuous improvement of outcomes driven patient experiences. The CV Medical Director works across hospitals, outpatient, and practice locations to develop team effectiveness and engagement. The CV Medical Director sets expectations and holds others accountable for our patients’ clinical experiences and effective care transitions. The CV Medical Director works collaboratively across specialties using recognized national benchmarks and best practices to develop a framework of operational excellence and peer review, as appropriate. The expectations for this role include a minimum clinical responsibility of 0.6 FTE, along with a 0.4 FTE Medical Directorship, as mutually agreed upon.

Qualifications:

1. MD or DO degree.
2. Active medical license and board certification in the specialty in cardiology.
3. 5+ years in clinical practice with leadership experience and training, preferred.

Reports to:

1. Directly to the Chief Operating Officer of Centralus Health or designee.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Provide strategic oversight, operational management and broad leadership to the cardiovascular service.
   1. Act as chair, and facilitate cardiovascular service line meetings, and function as the cardiovascular representative to the hospital committees.
   2. Develop goals for the service line based on national benchmarks and best practices and continually manage and monitor service line goal achievement.
   3. Provide ongoing assessment to achieve objectives consistent with the cardiovascular service line and Centralus Health strategic plans.
   4. Assure there is a system for benchmarking clinical and operational performance; plan and implement required changes to meet and exceed benchmarks.
   5. Collaborate with senior leadership to align service line KPIs to achieve improved patient access, high quality care and financial performance consistent with the goals of Centralus Health.
   6. Lead scheduled and ad hoc meetings with key stakeholders to discuss performance indicators including, but not limited to patient flow, quality outcomes, scheduling and other operational metrics.
   7. Provide clinical leadership and operational support to the ambulatory based practices within Centralus.
   8. Responsible for ensuring participation of the service line in GME programs as needed.

Quality and Safety

1. In partnership with the Director of Performance Improvement and Centralus Health Administration, develop a culture of safety in the cardiovascular service line.
2. Develop a plan to improve operational efficiencies, standardization of treatment protocols, and improve patient throughput and productivity.
3. Undertake regular quality improvement/patient safety initiatives in coordination with organizational priorities. Examples may include but are not limited to value-based purchasing (payer) metrics, infection control rates, and evidence-based clinical performance metrics.
4. Report regularly to the Medical Executive Committee and Administration on the progress towards the strategic and operational goals as determined by Administration and Medical Executive Committee.
5. Identify quality metrics, implement strategies for improvement, and monitor results.
6. Develop strategies to measure and improve patient experience across all gastroenterology services, including patient access.

Develop and maintain a high quality, high reliability environment.

1. Evaluate existing cardiovascular standard operating procedures (SOPs), policies and procedures, and revise as needed based on clinical evidence and best practices. Create “guiding documents”.
2. Regularly review, update, and certify those cardiovascular service line guiding documents that dually satisfy accreditation standards and enable performance standards defined by Centralus Health.
3. Where deficiencies exist in the guiding documents, the CV Medical Director shall direct the development of needed documents to assure high quality/safe processes within all areas of cardiovascular service line practice.
4. Responsibly address any concerns or questions of policy raised by cardiovascular providers or other cardiovascular services personnel.
5. Responsible for the delivery of high-quality care in ambulatory settings and in collaboration with operational leaders, operational efficiency, and effectiveness.

Develop People

1. Provide leadership that is viewed as an extension of system leadership and seek to foster strong relationships between providers and the organization.
2. Participate actively in the recruitment, selection, and on-boarding of new providers and other key leadership positions.
3. Monitor and sustain good relationships and communication between the providers and other cardiovascular staff.
4. Provide regular performance feedback and coaching to support providers having professional development opportunities and act as a model for constructive team behavior.
5. Develop a strong and collaborative working relationship with administrative dyad partner, providing for effective program leadership.

Regularly assess the needs of a successful cardiovascular program

1. Communicate findings to system leadership team members including VP Physician Enterprise and Business Development, CMO, COO.
2. Review, investigate, manage, and resolve complaints or concerns arising from patients, medical staff or administration and enact mitigation strategies.
3. Trend complaints and lead the team toward continuous improvement in the care of patients.
4. Function as an ambassador for Centralus Health in the community.

Advise on system redesign and areas for growth.

1. In partnership with Centralus Health Administration and administrative dyad partner, assist in the development of a cardiovascular strategic plan.
2. Strategize opportunities to grow the cardiovascular service line (e.g., services provided, patients treated, revenue), including assisting on development of a master space plan for cardiovascular services within Centralus Health.
3. Examine need for and implement systems to accommodate patients/cases in the ambulatory and hospital setting, designing workflows that replicate best practices for inpatient and outpatient procedures.
4. Recommend strategies to provide care at the most appropriate setting within Centralus Health based on all facts and considerations.

Achieve financial sustainability.

1. Provide input on budgets, billing, equipment, staffing, and annual goals and objectives.
2. Ensure the organization can meet patient volumes goals