Position Specification

Assistant Vice President, Ambulatory Operations

The Organization

La Rabida Children’s Hospital provides comprehensive care for children with chronic medical conditions and those with developmental disabilities. Located on the shore of Lake Michigan at Jackson Park, La Rabida has been caring for children in Chicago for more than 110 years and it is the only hospital in the region dedicated solely to caring for children with chronic illnesses, disabilities or those who have been abused.

La Rabida provides comprehensive, interdisciplinary health services to children across a continuum of care serving as a model for family-centered care. The organization also trains and educates area healthcare professionals, which better enables them to deal creatively with the challenges of children with chronic illness and their families. Additionally, La Rabida conducts research, and promotes advocacy related to the prevention, diagnosis and management of children with chronic illness.

La Rabida is a private, nonprofit organization operating 49 licensed beds and managing about 1,000 annual admissions plus more than 30,000 outpatient visits. La Rabida’s ambulatory services include dozens of outpatient clinics staffed by board-certified pediatricians, as well as round the clock urgent care in its five-bed Treatment Room (TR). In fiscal 2009, La Rabida outpatient visits neared 32,000, including more than 6,000 visits to the TR.  La Rabida’s ambulatory service locations include the Gertrude Frank Pick Building, a 13,000 square foot wing of the main hospital, as well as a satellite treatment center in west-suburban Hinsdale. Additional treatment centers are being considered for other locations in southern and southwestern suburban locations. La Rabida also partners with leading medical and academic institutions in the region to expand its offering of excellent resources and its outreach to young patients.

La Rabida organization maintains a strong fiscal position and has operated close to a $50 million annual budget each of the past several years. Its strong fiscal standing allows La Rabida to maintain its ongoing commitment to caring for children and families regardless of their ability to pay, and their payor mix is heavily dependent on Medicaid funding.  The organization remains financially viable through robust fundraising and additional government support. 

History of La Rabida Children’s Hospital

During the Chicago World's Fair Columbian Exposition in 1893, a replica of the La Rabida monastery in Spain (from where Columbus embarked on his voyage to the new world) was built in Jackson Park and housed artifacts of Columbus' historic voyage. After the fair, in 1895, the Spanish Consulate donated the building to the City of Chicago to be used as a fresh air sanitarium for sick children. That year, the sanitarium was run by a group of volunteer women, who, by 1896, officially took over the operation and upkeep of the building and the activities within. That group, the Women's Board of La Rabida, still exists today.

Throughout the 1920's La Rabida continued its work and eventually grew to become a hospital that cared for children with rheumatic fever. In the 1950's and 60's, the hospital gained international recognition for research which led to the eradication of the disease. It was during this period that the hospital made a formal commitment to treat the chronic illnesses of childhood.

Today, La Rabida employs some of the nation’s top professionals who provide treatment of lifelong medical conditions, including arthritis, asthma, cerebral palsy, diabetes, Down syndrome, sickle cell disease and developmental disabilities. La Rabida not only provides specialty care services to these children but also offers a medical home that provides both primary care, specialty care and care coordination to this population. La Rabida also provides extensive inpatient transitional care services from ICU to home for children who are dependent on medical technology (e.g., vents and trach) and those who require rehabilitation.  It also provides Illinois’ most extensive hospital-based program for neglected and abused children, which serves as a model for other healthcare institutions.

Additional information about La Rabida Children’s Hospital can be found on their website at: www.larabida.org.  

The Position

Location

La Rabida Children’s Hospital is located just south of downtown Chicago along the southern lakeshore of Lake Michigan on a well-maintained and landscaped peninsula overlooking Jackson Park Harbor and the lake.

Chicago is the third largest city in the United States with a population of nearly three million people and over nine million people in the Chicago Metropolitan area.  Located along the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago is a major center of transportation, industry, politics, culture, finance, medicine and higher education.   Chicago is a Mecca of cultural, educational, recreational and entertainment opportunities, including professional sports teams (football, baseball, basketball, hockey, etc.), 48 cultural institutions, historical sites and museums, more than 200 theaters, nearly 200 art galleries, two zoos and more than 6,000 restaurants.  Major city attractions include Navy Pier, Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry and the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Reporting Relationships

The Assistant Vice President, Ambulatory Operations reports to the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Brenda Wolf as well as to the Vice President, Patient Care Services, Aden Henry.  The AVP Ambulatory Services supervises all clinical and administrative staff working in the ambulatory setting, including nursing staff, case managers, medical secretaries, and admitting staff. There are presently about 25 full and part-time clinical staff working in the Clinics and the Treatment Room, as well as 6-7 support staff in registration and admitting. 

Key Working Relationships
In order to be successful, the Assistant Vice President, Ambulatory Operations will need to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of persons and groups at all levels of the organization as well as key constituencies external to the organization.  Along with the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and the Vice President of Patient Care Services, principal among them are: the Chief Executive Officer; the Vice President of Medical Affairs; the Chief Financial Officer; and the Outpatient Medical HomeProgram Manager. The Assistant Vice President, Ambulatory Operations is expected to work with current partners, such as the University of Chicago, Children’s Memorial Hospital, government officials, and other professional and community groups.

Responsibilities

The Assistant Vice President of Ambulatory Operations is the senior executive responsible for planning, organizing and directing all ambulatory services at La Rabida Children’s Hospital. This person advises Executive Council and other executives and on matters related to La Rabida clinic operations and outpatient program strategies. This person represents ambulatory services while interacting with the physician community, regulatory agencies, and other professional and community groups. Oversight areas include the outpatient clinics, the Treatment Room (ETR), the Access Center, all registration, admitting and appointment functions.

The following comprise the major expectations of the person who accepts the position as Assistant Vice President, Ambulatory Operations: 

• Establish and cultivate relationships with La Rabida Children’s Hospital physicians, both full time employed physicians and contract physicians who staff clinics for La Rabida. 

• Collaborate with and support a physician leader for ambulatory services.

• Establish an ambulatory services committee and sub-committees to help drive consensus based decision-making in areas such as patient safety and quality.

• Identify processes or procedures that need change, communicate the need for change to senior leadership, and partner with senior leadership to implement change.

• Develop policies and procedures to improve patient care, clinical workflows, and clinic throughput – and work to ensure their consistent application and enforcement.

• Improve outpatient appointment scheduling procedures and scheduling of clinic days for physicians.

• Analyze procedures and institute changes to improve billing and maximize collections.

• Oversee ambulatory staff recruitment; guide and mentor staff and ensure their ongoing professional development.

• Supervise ancillary support areas and case managers to ensure that the clinic’s needs for these services are fulfilled.

• Assist administration in developing and implementing long- and short-range strategic goals and business plans for the hospital’s ambulatory programs.

• Work closely with hospital finance in forecasting and preparing annual budget and financial statements.

• Represent La Rabida ambulatory services in interactions with regulatory agencies and other professional and community groups.

• Enhance operational effectiveness, emphasizing cost containment and high-quality patient care.

• Participate in electronic medical record implementation project, assisting with guiding workflow and process changes and revisions as needed.

• Ensure that the hospital’s ambulatory plan and efforts meets the needs of internal constituencies including business development, as well as fundraising activities. 

• Assist negotiations with public and private insurance providers, helping ensure the clinic's long-term financial stability.

• Maintain compliance with governmental regulations and industry requirements.

• Assist administration in maintaining positive community relations and serve as liaison between other staff and the public.

• Ensure that services are delivered in accordance with La Rabida’s Family Centered-Care Philosophy and core values, including in a child and family-friendly manner.

Opportunity

This new position provides an opportunity to make a difference and join a dedicated leadership team at one of the best known and respected specialty children’s care settings in the nation. It provides challenges such as leading the organization through needed change processes and inspiring continued excellence in care in a venerable 110-year young organization. La Rabida Children’s Hospital is financially sound and poised for growth. 

Compensation

An attractive, competitive compensation program will be offered to qualified candidates. Included are both a base salary and bonus.  The final candidate will receive relocation assistance and benefits, which are usual and customary for this level position in the organization. 

Travel
Some local and regional travel between La Rabida and area community organizations and healthcare facilities is anticipated.  Involvement with appropriate business activities, professional societies and organizations might also involve some national travel. 

The Candidate

Education/Certifications

MHA, MBA or MS in health administration or business administration preferred, bachelor’s prepared candidates with strong business backgrounds may be considered. Clinical experience is a plus, as in demonstration of ongoing professional development courses in healthcare management.

Professional Qualifications

• Seven or more years of progressive administrative leadership, including at least two years’ experience in administration of a major, multispecialty clinic staffed by faculty physicians.

• Experience with ambulatory care is a must; pediatric clinic background is preferable.

• Experience with practice management, electronic medical record, and other healthcare computer systems and applications.

• Strategic vision skills. The ability to anticipate future trends, establish goals and objectives and articulate them into clear and concise business plans.

• Demonstrated knowledge of principles and trends in medical practice management administration, including fiscal management, government regulations, physician relations contracting, and reimbursement.

• Knowledge of chronic care and pediatric outpatient practices; understands the design and workflows of children’s care settings.

• Enhances professional development and maintains professional affiliations with relevant associations (e.g., NACHRI, MGMA).

• Proven ability to interact and work collaboratively with senior leadership, board members, physicians and a variety of individuals and groups. 

• Superb research and data interpretation and analytical and reporting skills with ability to bring analyses to bear on solving operational problems.

• Strong facilitative skills, with the ability to compel others to strive to meet continuous improvement objectives.

• Demonstrated experience in building effective teams and an ability to delegate, lead, mentor and develop professionals.

Personal Characteristics

• A person who exercises a high degree of intuition, judgment and discretion.

• Skilled in analyzing situations and taking effective action.

• Strong communication skills, verbal and written.

• Organization-minded, mission focused problem solver.

• Self-confident, ability to stand firm in decision making and not easily backed down by strong opposing or challenging points-of-view.

• Unquestioned integrity and high moral and ethical standards who can serve as a role model.

• Someone effective in establishing solid professional relationships and gaining credibility with other dedicated healthcare professionals.

• Someone strong at organizing and delegating work to achieve overall goals and objectives.

• Patient, compassionate, but balanced with tenacity for constant improvement.

• A self-starter with a strong work ethic and high level of personal initiative and self-direction.

• Action-oriented leader who takes ownership, rolls up the sleeves and gets the job done.

• A service oriented individual with business acumen, results-orientation and a customer focus.