Chief Medical Executive

South Shore Health (SSH) is a not-for-profit, charitable health system offering primary, secondary and certain aspects of
tertiary care to the residents of South Eastern Massachusetts. With $775 million in net patient revenue and 393 beds, it is the largest independent health system in this region. South Shore Health (the “System”) harnesses top-caliber talent, the latest technology, and best-in-class service to meet the personal needs of patients and their families. SSH Surgical Services consists of four Departments:
Departments of Surgery, led by the Surgeon-in-Chief (SIC) which includes: Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, General Surgery, Bariatric Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Urology, Vascular Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Breast Surgery, Otolaryngology, Podiatry, Ophthalmology, Plastic Surgery and Oral Surgery. The SIC answers to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO).
Departments of Orthopedics, Gynecology, Neurosurgery CMO Medical Officer.
Patient care and teaching is delivered by teams of board-certified employed and contracted surgeons and in coordination with advanced practice providers (APPs), focused on providing the highest quality, safe, and efficient surgical care for patients in both outpatient practice and inpatient environments. Our surgical services perform over 19,000 surgical cases annually in 14 operating rooms and 2 endoscopy rooms at the main hospital and 6 operating rooms at our ambulatory surgery center. SSH is a Level 2 Trauma Center caring for more than 3,000 trauma patients annually.
The Surgical Service is supported by a Nurse Managers for both Operating Room and Perioperative services. These leaders report to the Assistant Chief Nursing Officer for Operative and Peri-Operative Services.
Reporting to the Vice President for Medicine, Critical Care, and Perioperative Services, and indirectly to the Surgeon-In Chief, and in collaboration with the Department Chairs and perioperative nursing leadership, the Executive Director of Perioperative Services (Executive Director) is accountable for the overall administration of the surgical and perioperative services at the Hospital. Specifically, the Executive Director is responsible for strategic planning, provider staffing, scheduling and payroll, revenue cycle, financial performance, purchasing, human resources management, training programs, and facilities planning and management for the Departments and perioperative services. In addition, the Executive Director will work with surgeons, anesthesiologists, nursing leadership, quality and safety, ancillary services, patient relations, and other inter-disciplinary leaders to effectively carry-out the surgical mission and the related goals and objectives. Performance evaluation will be jointly conducted by the VP and in collaboration with the Surgeon-In-Chief and Department Chairs.
Under the direction of the VP of Medicine, Critical Care, and Peri-Operative Services and in close partnership with the Surgeon-In-Chief, Department Chairs, Nursing and administrative leadership, the Executive Director will support the development and implementation of the overall surgical mission, vision and goals set forth for surgical and perioperative services. They will support strategic and capital plans, and ensures their implementation of strategic business plans that align with the organization’s goals and objectives.

The Executive Director will define, evaluate, and recommend new business ventures, affiliations, and partnerships advancing the growth and service objectives of the Department, and the Hospital. In this area the Executive Director will work with departmental and hospital leadership and the Office of General Counsel to prepare the necessary business plans and documentation. The Executive Director will develop and implement hospital and department policies and procedures. The incumbent will partner with the Surgeon-In-Chief to assess the clinical, human resource, and financial factors required to meet the needs of the Surgical and Perioperative Services.

The Executive Director will communicate effectively with clinicians and staff.

Using heuristic methods, including the principles of a High Reliability Organization (HRO), the Executive Director will work to improve the efficiency, safety and efficacy of systems and processes in the Department of Surgery.

As a critical member of Department’s administrative leadership team, the Executive Director will support Perioperative Services meetings, specifically the OR Executive Committee, the OR Committee, Trauma Committee(s) and others as required.

In partnership with the surgical Chiefs and Chairs, the Executive Director will oversee service call schedules to ensure 24/7/365 service coverage. The Executive Director will oversee all contractual relationships and invoicing of call covering services and providers to South Shore Hospital.

Develops, supports and manages programmatic initiatives for the improvement of clinical outcomes, cost reduction and network development.

Resolves administrative challenges that arise, and directs the planning of improvements for existing and new clinical services.

Oversees external contract management for staffing, equipment, and supply management, as appropriate. Recommends and creates business plans for purchase of capital equipment.

Under the direction of the Hospital’s and Department’s Quality program leadership, The Executive Director serves as the lead administrative resource for the Department’s clinical quality program safety program and fosters SSH’s culture as a Collaborative High Reliability Organization (HRO).

The incumbent will lead the Department’s involvement in any compliance audits in collaboration with the Risk Department as directed. Participate with the Departments in negotiating contracts for the delivery of clinical services by division providers. He/she will assess the agreements on an on-going basis to ensure that they are financially viable and comply with current regulatory requirements.

Leads projects to support programmatic growth, efficiency, and quality/safety initiatives across surgical and perioperative services; utilizes dashboards and data analytics to identify opportunities, oversee project plans, and monitoring of programmatic interventions.

discusses and resolves administrative problems that arise; directs the administrative planning for potential new sources of research support in conjunction with internal SSH IRB leadership.

Financial Management

Establishes and achieves financial goals and measures, monitors financial performance, and ensures the on-going financial performance of the Departments.

Understands and meets all Department financial reporting requirements in the prescribed format, per the direction of the VP, Chair, and the Hospital Finance Team.

Measures and effectively communicates provided productivity and recommends adjustments to financials as required for proper fiscal management. 

Examines, analyzes and interprets financial data. The incumbent will supervise the activities of colleagues who are responsible for approval of expenditures, assigning cost centers, monitoring compliance with budgets, and identifying and investigating potential problem areas and proposing solutions. He/she will make recommendations for cost savings based on a thorough understanding of the Department operations, and study policies and requirements, and funding agency regulations.

Establishes and maintains a financial management system within the SSH Accounting and Finance Department’s structure to allow for accurate, detailed and up-to-the minute reporting of financial status and staffing distribution of all operating accounts. They will supervise staff who provide monthly, annual and ad-hoc financial reports on all division funds. Represents Surgical Services on professional billing and collection issues. Maintains a thorough understanding of clinical reimbursement and managed care issues specific to the Departments/Divisions. Identifies opportunities to optimize clinical reimbursement and implements new policies and procedures as needed. Educates providers and staff on clinical reimbursement issues as needed.

Maintains team-oriented and productive partnerships with all key stakeholders of the clinical services to carry out the goals and objectives of the surgical and perioperative service areas.

Serves as the Department resource for all administrative issues concerning human resources policies and procedures.

Implement all institutional policies related to all phases of personnel activity, including recruitment, interviewing, compensation, benefits, orientation, performance evaluations, promotions, transfers, and terminations. They will transmit and interpret policies to supervisors and employees. They will ensure appropriate training of employees. The Executive director may represent the Departments in employee relations matters.

Other Administrative Responsibilities

Participates in all required surgical and perioperative services meetings, including personnel recruitment/retention, quality/safety, daily operations meetings, and other assigned meetings. 

Administers the Department’s training and orientation programs, including participation in the selection process, establishing salary policies, resolving salary and benefit issues, and complying with hospital policies.

Participates in the design of space renovations for facilities, identifies and resolves facility problems that arise.

Oversees the timely credentialing of and payor enrollment for all Department professional providers to ensure compliance with Hospital bylaws and appropriate payment for clinical services.

Consistently meets all deadlines for deliverables or activities as established by the VP, Surgeon-In-Chief, Department Chairs, and Divisional/Departmental policies and standards.

Serves on hospital-based committees as assigned by the VP and/or Department leadership.

MBA or equivalent degree required.
Minimum of 5 years of hospital-based department and/or service line management required; operating room management experience is strongly preferred.
Outstanding interpersonal skills, ability to handle sensitive human resources issues and supervise a large and diverse staff in handling these matters.
Ability to delegate and effectively supervise and plan for the timely and successful completion of short- and long-term objectives.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills to communicate effectively with a large and diverse constituency, including senior hospital leaders, department/division providers and support staff, representatives of other departments, collaborating institution officials, and vendors.
High degree of analytic ability to manage the financial and human resources aspects of the position.
Interpersonal relationship skills needed to motivate others and work with many hospital-wide department heads, administrators, and physicians in a positive and collegial fashion.
Works in an administrative and highly clinical, fast-paced setting. Attends meetings in and out of the hospital. Is available for early and late meetings and flexible to meet frequent deadlines. Some evening and weekend may be required.

Financially accountable for the operating budget performance of the Departments and associated cost centers. Responsible for the solvency of all accounts under the Departments purview.