Description

The Chief Quality Officer (CQO), is an executive physician leader who develops, implements, directs, and evaluates system-wide quality, safety, performance improvement, patient experience, and infection control programs in support of the goals of the Health System. The incumbent is responsible for leading the development, implementation, evaluation, and refinement of the overarching quality, patient safety, and patient experience strategy. The CQO is responsible for operational oversight of the following functions: quality and patient safety, accreditation and regulatory readiness, process and performance improvement, healthcare quality data analytics and insights, patient experience, and other system-based functions as assigned.

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, this role integrates three critical enterprise capabilities—quality, patient safety, and performance improvement—into a single, disciplined organizational structure. The CQO ensures that quality and safety are not only well-defined but translated into executable priorities with clear ownership, sequencing, performance measurement, and accountability across the System.

This physician executive partners closely with clinical, operational, financial, and governance leaders to develop strategies and lead; facilitates and supports cross-functional teams to improve and redesign operational and administrative processes critical to safe, high-quality, efficient, and patient- and family-centered care. The CQO will guide clinical and operational quality by partnering with medical staff leaders and physicians. Working directly with the hospital directors and managers of Quality, Patient Safety and Performance Improvement.

Requirements

Education
Board-certified physician, MD, or DO - Required
Experience
At least 5 years of leadership experience with responsibility for oversight of core quality functions such as patient safety, clinical performance, quality and performance measurement and reporting systems, accreditation and regulatory readiness, and executive-level performance presentation and reporting - Required
At least 5 years of executive leadership experience, preferably in a complex health system, in an executive quality (e.g., CQO or VP, quality and safety) position - Required
Extensive knowledge of healthcare issues, trends, in complex healthcare delivery settings - Required
Working knowledge of Lean Six Sigma improvement methodology - Required
Strong operational and financial acumen with the ability to develop, lead, and partner based on a vision for excellence that includes continuous improvement in quality, safety, and cost-of-care reductions - Required
License & Certification
Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality - Preferred