Chief Operating Officer for Mass General Brigham System Behavioral and Mental Health, McLean Hospital

The Opportunity

Massachusetts General Brigham (MGB) seeks a senior-level executive to oversee the operations of its system-wide Behavioral and Mental Health (SBMH) clinical service. Reporting to the Chief of SBMH and President of McLean Hospital (MCL), the VPO will serve as the executive responsible for all inpatient, outpatient, partial, and residential services across MGB.

In addition to administering a wide range of clinical services, the VPO also leads and manages all business and support services, while serving as the primary facilitator and change leader for the integration of all behavioral and mental health services across MGB. Specifically, the VPO maintains responsibility for:

• operational integration;
• information services and technology;
• active asset management;
• patient access;
• international/destination services;

Additionally, serving in the capacity of COO MCL, the VPO is responsible for:

• inpatient, outpatient, partial and residential operations at MCL;
• health information management;
• Joint Commission accreditation;
• labor relations
• emergency preparedness;
• laboratory services and radiology and imaging services;
• ancillary service contracts including food and nutrition and environmental services;
• facilities management;
• materials management;
• security services; and
• non-clinical risk management.

The individual in this new role will be crucial to advancing MGB’s clinical innovation, performance excellence, and value-based care agendas, working in close collaboration with other SBMH top executives, including the VP Medical Affairs, the VP Nursing, and the VP Enterprise Clinical Services.

The VPO will serve as a catalyst for hard-wiring MGB’s values in a manner that advances a culture of collegiality, collaboration, and service excellence across the enterprise. The VPO will work closely with individuals across the System and will lead SBMH operational efforts to ensure excellent coordination and communication among the hospitals and many clinicians who practice and support the care environment.

The successful candidate will be an executive with a proven track-record in a complex and high performing academic medical center or health system. S/he will be regarded as an engine for change and champion for service excellence, clinical excellence, patient safety, and patient experience. The ideal candidate is an enterprising, visible, transparent, and decisive leader and communicator who can foster relationships and collaborations by empowering staff and promoting trusted partnerships.

Leadership

• Determines the overall direction, goals, tactics, and objectives for SBMH clinical operations. Establishes long range goals and ensures the implementation of strategic business plans that are aligned with the vision, strategic plans, and goals of the system.
• Collaborates with leadership at other hospitals on issues related to clinical operations and service delivery.
• Ensures healthy and collaborative relationships among the faculty, nurses and staff across MGB.
• In partnership with nursing and operational leadership at each site, oversees and ensures the provision of collaborative, safe and high-quality care and the timely and efficient use of the assets across MGB.

Operational Integration

• Leads Asset Management review and alignment process for SBMH across MGB.
• Responsible for Patient Access. Analyzes data to understand the drivers of capacity. Uses formulas and modeling to impact more efficient patient throughput. Partners with clinical colleagues to implement process improvement pilots where the goal is effective management of patient capacity and implements novel strategies to increase access to services across all care environments.
• Optimizes value for by employing data driven decisions to actively engage in process improvement activities that reduce cost and improve revenue.
• Responsible for partnering with MGB Information Services and Technology and assuring solutions that meet the service delivery needs.
• Leads collaboration with International/Destination Services to expand impact of SBMH services.
• Conceptualizes and performs a variety of financial analyses. Assesses expense management issues, performs comparative analyses and develops and implements strategies for cost containment.
• Facilitates effective cost containment practices through monitoring of volume trends, proactive management of capacity (physical and human resource), supplies, service contracts, and professional services agreements.

McLean Hospital Responsibilities

• Responsible for Inpatient, Outpatient, Partial and Residential SBMH Operations, Lab Services, and Radiology, including interdisciplinary initiatives with nursing, clinical support services, and clinical faculty, to ensure safe, efficient and effective delivery of services.
• In collaboration with interdisciplinary hospital, nursing and physician leaders, directs the development and implementation of process improvement initiatives aimed at improving patient safety and compliance across the continuum of care. Assures compliance with TJC, OSHA, DPH, DMH and state and federal regulations. Partners with Compliance for audits as needed and/or directed.
• Maintains an in-depth knowledge of the changing health care environment and assesses the market’s need for clinical services. Monitors and evaluates the adequacy of the existing services and ensures the development of programs and services to respond to the market. Develops, supports, and manages programmatic initiatives for care improvement and cost reduction.
• Has oversight for Health Information, Facilities, Environmental Services, Food & Nutrition, Materials Management, Security and Non-Clinical Risk Management.
• Creates and maintains relevant metrics and a dashboard to display metrics in a meaningful and accessible fashion for stakeholders.
• Recruits, retains, develops, and provides managerial and administrative oversight of all staff within the responsible areas. Creates a working environment that supports the ongoing professional growth and development of all staff, high morale, and optimal job satisfaction.
• Facilitates resolution of conflicts and issues that emerge between key stakeholder groups.
• Provides leadership in the implementation of regular staff meetings, in-service training, and continuing education activities for all areas of responsibility.

Education and Certifications

• MBA, MHA, MPH, or equivalent degree required.

Knowledge and Work Experience

• 15+ years administrative/management experience required, preferably in an academic medical center or health system.
• Supervisory experience required.

Leadership Skills and Competencies

• Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to handle sensitive human resources issues, especially including conflict resolution among and between administrative/clinical leaders, clinical faculty, and other staff.
• Outstanding organizational skills are necessary to manage many competing timetables and responsibilities. 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 and physician leaders, departmental and division faculty and support staff, collaborating institution officials, representatives, and vendors.
• Requires the ability to work independently and to accept responsibility for complex and sensitive decision-making as it relates to the overall conduct of the division.
• High degree of analytic ability to manage the financial and human resources aspects of the position.
• Excellent negotiation skills in complex and often sensitive multi-institutional negotiations for agreements and contracts for clinical services and other business relationships.
• Interpersonal relationship skills needed to manage and motivate others; work with many hospital-wide leaders, administrators, and physicians in a positive and collegial fashion.
• Ability to work independently and accurately and concisely disseminate information in both written and verbal formats.

Mass General Brigham is an Equal Opportunity Employer & by embracing diverse skills, perspectives and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law.