Chief Operating Officer/Chief Nursing Officer chez Lexington Regional Health Center

Description

Lexington Regional Health Center

Title: Chief Operating Officer/Chief Nursing Officer

Effective Date: September 8, 2025

Supervisor: Chief Executive Officer

Department: Administration

FLSA Status: Exempt 

Principle duties and responsibilities

1. Serves as the senior executive responsible for all hospital operations, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, and efficient clinical services. 
2. Provides strategic leadership for inpatient services, ancillary departments, and operational support functions while managing the organization's "Big Rocks" - major non-differentiating initiatives that consume signi?cant organizational resources. 
3. Ensures optimal operational performance while maintaining focus on patient safety, staff satisfaction, and ?nancial sustainability.
4. Provides strategic leadership for all hospital operations including inpatient services, emergency services, surgical services, and operational support functions.
5. Ensures optimal patient ?ow, capacity utilization, and resource allocation across all clinical departments.
6. Leads development and implementation of operational strategies that support organizational growth and sustainability.
7. Drives operational efficiency initiatives that improve patient outcomes while reducing costs.
8. Establishes and maintains operational performance standards and accountability systems.
9. Oversees all aspects of clinical service delivery ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, and best practices.
10. Leads nursing services through Director of Nursing with focus on staffing optimization, quality outcomes, and professional development.
11. Directs surgical and procedural services through Director of Outpatient Services ensuring optimal scheduling, resource utilization, and quality outcomes.
12. Ensures effective coordination between inpatient and outpatient services for seamless patient care transitions.
13. Oversees emergency preparedness and disaster response planning and implementation.
14. Leads "Big Rocks" management - major non-differentiating initiatives that consume signi?cant organizational resources.
15. Directs capital planning and resource allocation for operational departments and major infrastructure projects.
16. Oversees facility management, environmental services, and maintenance operations.
17. Leads regulatory compliance initiatives and facility improvement projects.
18. Manages operational capacity planning and resource optimization across all departments.
19. Directs comprehensive nursing services through Director of Nursing including Emergency Services, Med-Surg, and Obstetrics departments.
20. Ensures optimal staffing patterns, skill mix, and professional development for nursing staff.
21. Oversees patient safety initiatives, infection control programs, and quality improvement activities.
22. Directs utilization review and case management functions to optimize length of stay and discharge planning.
23. Leads implementation of evidence-based nursing practice and clinical decision support tools.
24. Oversees surgical services and specialty clinic operations through Director of Outpatient Services.
25. Ensures optimal Operating Room (OR) scheduling, resource utilization, and surgical case mix management.
26. Directs perioperative services including pre-operative, operative, and post-operative care coordination.
27. Oversees specialty clinic operations and provider scheduling optimization.
28. Leads surgical quality improvement initiatives and outcomes measurement.
29. Directs pharmacy operations ensuring medication safety, cost optimization, and clinical integration.
30. Oversees laboratory, radiology, and diagnostic services (matrix coordination with Chief Executive Officer direct oversight).
31. Manages environmental services, maintenance, and facility operations.
32. Directs security operations and emergency preparedness initiatives.
33. Oversees medical equipment management and biomedical engineering functions.
34. Leads major non-differentiating initiatives including regulatory compliance projects, facility upgrades, and technology implementations.
35. Coordinates resource-intensive operational projects that impact multiple departments.
36. Manages timeline and resource allocation for major infrastructure improvements.
37. Oversees implementation of new regulations, accreditation requirements, and compliance initiatives.
38. Directs facility expansion, renovation, and major equipment replacement projects.
39. Owns East Wall displays showing "Big Rocks" and major operational initiatives.
40. Leads monthly reporting on resource-intensive projects and capacity management.
41. Coordinates major project timelines and resource allocation decisions.
42. Presents operational capacity constraints and resources needs to executive team.
43. Maintains visual management of major non-differentiating work consuming organizational resources.
44. Supports People-Process-Plan framework through operational excellence and staff development.
45. Coordinate with Chief Human Resources Officer on employee engagement initiatives and workforce development.
46. Supports Chief Population Health and Quality Officer (CPHQO) on process improvement initiatives and quality enhancement efforts.
47. Responsible for the following Key Performance Indicators: Operational Metrics: patient satisfaction scores for inpatient services, average length of stay and bed utilization rates, Emergency Department throughput and left-without-being-seen rates, surgical case volume and OR utilization rates, nursing-sensitive quality indicators. Financial Metrics: department-level ?nancial performance and budget variance, supply chain costs and procurement efficiency, staffing costs and productivity measures, revenue cycle performance for operational services, capital project completion within budget and timeline. Quality and Safety Metrics: hospital-acquired infection rates, patient safety indicator performance, regulatory compliance and accreditation outcomes, staff injury rates and workers' compensation costs, emergency preparedness drill performance and compliance. Staff Metrics: nursing turnover and retention rates, employee engagement scores for operational departments, staffing effectiveness and overtime utilization, professional development and certi?cation achievement, physician and provider satisfaction with operational support.
48. Ensure patients and visitors follow current infection control guidelines. 
49. Responsible for ensuring the environment meets appropriate governing body standards. 
50. Duties that could include blood exposure and risk to bloodborne pathogens (eg: lacerations, handling of blood-contaminated items, etc.) 
51. Maintains patient and staff safety through the use of patient safety tools (TeamSTEPPS, Just Culture, etc.). 
52. Regular attendance at the assigned work location is required. 
53. Performs all other duties as assigned.

Minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities

1. Knowledge of healthcare systems and hospital operations, individual and group behaviors, budgeting and financial management practices is typically acquired through the completion of a Master's degree in Healthcare Administration, Nursing, Business Administration, or related ?eld.

2. Current active Registered Nurse license from the State of Nebraska or approved compact state of residence as defined by the Nebraska Nurse Practice Act preferred for nursing leadership.

3. Professional certi?cation in healthcare management (FACHE, CPHQ, or equivalent) preferred.

4. Additional certi?cations in emergency management, quality improvement, or operations management preferred.

5. Minimum ten years’ progressive healthcare leadership experience with demonstrated expertise in hospital operations required.

6. Minimum five years’ experience in senior operational leadership roles with Profit and Loss responsibility required.

7. Proven track record of leading operational improvement initiatives and change management.

8. Experience with nursing leadership, medical staff relations, and clinical operations.

9. Demonstrated success in budget management, resource allocation, and capital planning.

10. Core Competencies: Strong operational and analytical skills with ability to manage complex, multi- departmental operations. Proven leadership capabilities with experience managing large, diverse teams. Deep understanding of healthcare regulations, accreditation standards, and quality requirements. Financial acumen with experience in budget development, variance analysis, and cost management. Excellent communication skills with ability to work effectively with clinical and administrative staff. Crisis management and emergency response capabilities.

11. Working Relationships - Internal Stakeholders: CEO and executive leadership team for strategic planning and operational alignment, Chief Medical Officer for medical staff relations and clinical quality coordination, Chief Population Health and Quality Officer for quality improvement and process enhancement, Chief Financial Officer for budget management and ?nancial performance, Director-level reports for departmental operations and performance management, Nursing staff, providers and clinical personnel across all operational departments, Board of Directors for operational reporting and strategic updates.

12. Working Relationships - External Stakeholders: Regulatory agencies and accreditation organizations, Emergency management and public safety officials, vendor partners and service contractors, professional associations and healthcare networks, community partners for emergency preparedness, patients and families receiving inpatient services.

13. Authority and Decision-Making: Operational Authority - full operational authority for all assigned departments and services, budget authority within approved limits for operational expenses and capital items, personnel authority including hiring, performance management, and disciplinary actions within Human Resources’ guidelines, policy development and implementation authority for operational areas, emergency response authority during crisis situations. 

14. Resource Management: authority to reallocate resources within operational budget constraints, decision-making authority for operational process improvements and efficiency initiatives, capital planning input and recommendation authority for major operational investments, vendor selection and contract management authority within established procurement guidelines, facility utilization and space allocation decision-making authority.

16. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality regarding protected and sensitive information. 

17. Ability to complete reports and correspondence at a professional level. 

18. Ability to immediately respond to common inquiries and complaints from patients, employees and regulatory agencies. 

19. Ability to effectively communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds. 

21. Successful completion of required knowledge and training of standard precaution protocols and when to apply during principle duties and responsibilities. 

Working Conditions

1. Works in a normal office work environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, temperature, etc.
2. Spends up to 60% of the day performing daily tasks sitting, both at desk for paperwork and in meetings. Required to ambulate up to 500 feet within facility for rounding with consumers and attending meetings. Will use laptop at meetings, requiring transporting laptop with to and from meetings. Will assist setting up for hospital events, such as transporting a 30-pound tote of information and supplies up to 100 feet.

Management responsibilities

1. Responsible for Director of Nursing, Director of Outpatient Services, Director of Pharmacy Services and Director of Transitional Services and Patient Care Coordinator.

2. Matrix Relationships (Operational Management): Social Workers (functional coordination with CPHQO for population health initiatives) and Centralized Scheduling (functional coordination with CPHQO for ambulatory scheduling).

3. Coordination Relationships: Laboratory, Radiology, Respiratory Therapy, Rehabilitation Services (CEO direct oversight with COO operational coordination).

Job description statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job title. They are not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required.