• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $225,000 - $245,000

Position Summary

Under the leadership of the Director of Clinical Services & Training, the Associate Director of Clinical Services will assume leadership and management of the assigned practice team in Columbia Health Medical Services. This position will supervise and direct a team of Nurse Practitioners and Physicians who will provide eligible students with the highest standards of culturally inclusive clinical care.   

The Associate Director will oversee the Medical Services strategic initiatives, provide clinical leadership and staff development, facilitate patient care-related services, and make well-informed and strategic decisions to ensure the delivery of high-quality clinical care.  The Associate Director will work in tandem with their counterpart and will collaborate across disciplines and functional teams to provide day-to-day leadership and oversight related to care integration, access, and overall effectiveness of Clinical Services.

The Associate Clinical Director will practice clinically and will perform direct patient care. Additionally, the Associate Director will implement clinical policies and protocols, ensure processes and workflow standardization, and comply with regulatory requirements. The incumbent will foster a culture of respect, collaboration, inclusivity, accountability, and continuous improvement, promoting teamwork and excellence in patient care delivery.

The Associate Director will serve as the designated authority for Clinical Services functions in the absence of the Director.

This is an essential onsite role that participates in an on-call rotation and provides occasional Saturday coverage during academic terms.

Responsibilities

Leadership (60 %)

• Provide strategic direction and leadership for clinical services, including planning, directing, and overseeing daily patient care activities to ensure patient-centered, culturally inclusive healthcare through a team-based approach.
• Work closely with the Director of Clinical Services & Training to create Clinical Services goals and objectives that advance and align with Columbia Health and Medical Services' priorities. Participate in developing and implementing strategic and operating initiatives and support integration across practice teams.  
• Evaluate the effectiveness and safety of operational procedures and protocols; leverage best practices and knowledge of patient needs to make actionable recommendations to facilitate the highest level of patient care. Identify issues that impede the delivery of quality care and work with the Director to develop and implement short-term improvements and plans for long-term process improvements for practice-related services, as well as compliance, communication, and patient satisfaction.
• In partnership with counterparts, senior staff, and other disciplines, optimize workflows, patient scheduling, communication, and efficient allocation of resources to maximize the quality and scope of clinical services.
• Collaborate with the Associate Director, Practice Operations to design overall service schedule to meet Medical Services operational needs and manage schedule revisions necessitated by unanticipated absences and events.
• Plan, direct, and facilitate clinical care activities to maintain the highest standards of patient care; participate in periodic review, evaluation, and modification of clinical programs to meet students’ needs. 
• Provide clinical leadership and consultation; advise providers on matters related to Clinical Service and play an active role in the dissemination of best practices throughout Medical Services; ensure effective use of policies and cross functional solutions to ensure consistent, effective, and efficient delivery of care and other clinical objectives.
• Work closely with the Director to identify key metrics and performance indicators (KPIs); collaborate with other staff across Columbia Health to ensure process and outcomes measurement. Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and clinical metrics to identify trends; manage challenges, and suggest and implement strategies for improvement.
• Direct clinical and administrative supervision of clinical providers; lead regular team meetings with providers, and other disciplines to bridge the needs of programs, services, and operational support; assess and identify the needs of assigned practice team and ensure appropriate resources are in place to support clinical operations.
• Develop leaders and leadership capacity within the Clinical Services teams; motivate direct reports individually and as a team, understanding and supporting diversity with a focus on establishing an integrated multi-disciplinary team.
• Evaluate the performance of direct reports, including providing ongoing feedback as well as mentorship; nurture professional development; set diverse and specific performance goals, priorities, and objectives; and identify development opportunities for direct reports that meet their individual and specific growth needs to establish high standards for professionalism.
• Manage personnel selection and staffing decisions that promote cultural alignment and reflect the diverse backgrounds of the Columbia student body; collaborate with Human Resources on recruitment, retention, staff development, and performance management issues. Provide general staff supervision, including approval of time off for direct reports and delegated staff.
• Lead and facilitate all aspects of the Medical Services orientation and onboarding process. Collaborate with the Medical Services leadership team, Columbia Health Human Resources, and University partners to ensure thorough orientation and onboarding of all medical providers.
• Support credentialing and privileging process of newly hired practitioners. Support periodic re-credentialing.
• Based on the American College of Health Association standards, participate in the development, review, and revision of practice guidelines; development of patient care policies and procedures; and quality assurance review to assess overall quality of patient care.
• Participate in business continuity planning for Columbia Health and university-wide emergency preparedness, including prevention of illness and epidemics.

Direct Patient Care (30%)

• Practice clinically--perform physical assessment and diagnosis of presenting problems and management of acute and chronic illness in accordance with approved guidelines; educate concerning prevention and well-being; follow up patient problems in continuity structure; utilize specialists and outside medical resources when indicated.
• Perform telephone consultations, laboratory and radiology follow-up, and triaging of urgent care patients with referral to appropriate providers.
• Prescribe a variety of modalities to treat illness and meet well-being needs, including, but not limited to, medical, nutrition, exercise, and traditional nursing treatments. Order and interpret diagnostic tests.
• Work collaboratively with multiple clinical disciplines in planning for patient care and making referrals to other disciplines as necessary.
• On a rotating basis, participate in after-hours care, acting as backup for on-call nurse triage service with other clinical providers.
• Evaluate and document patients’ responses to the plan of care in the Electronic Health Record (EHR).  Maintain accurate and timely documentation in EMR in accordance with Columbia Health policies and procedures.

Quality Management and Compliance (5 %)

• Manage quality management programs and initiatives to maintain high clinical care and service excellence standards. Function as a member of the Quality Management Committee.  Plan, coordinate, and execute at least one relevant program-specific Quality Management project per semester. Actively support and contribute to Quality Management and incorporate findings into practice.
• Conduct audits and assessments to monitor compliance with regulatory bodies, Medical Services clinical protocols, documentation standards, practice standards, policies, and procedures. Addresses deviations from policy and protocol among direct reports.  Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements such as AAAHC accreditation standards.
• Review and audit EHR documentation for timeliness, accuracy, quality, and completeness. Ensure compliance by auditing clinical records and following up with providers who are non-compliant with clinical notes.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with all relevant healthcare regulations, including those set forth by government agencies and accrediting bodies in addition to University and Columbia Health policies and procedures and practice standards.  Assure all clinical providers are trained in areas of confidentiality such as HIPAA/FERPA as well as emergency/crisis management and reporting adverse incidents.
• Support ongoing training and programs for clinical staff to keep them updated on best practices, regulatory standards, and changes.
• Maintain professional competencies by attending educational programs and participating in professional organizations. Develop and evaluate own goals for professional growth, participate in CME opportunities; and utilize external resources including professional associations and seminars.

Perform other duties as assigned (5%)

Minimum Qualifications

• MD/DO/DNP from an accredited institution.
• Current NY State physician or NP license and DEA registration.
• Board certified or eligible in primary care specialty, internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, or closely related discipline as appropriate. 
• Must have current BLS and Infection Control Certificate.
• Minimum 10 years of senior management and leadership experience in an outpatient primary care setting, community health clinic setting, student health care, or closely related environment.
• Demonstrated experience as a strategic thinker around healthcare solutions, open to new approaches for constant learning.
• Experience leading change initiatives and using quality management practices, data, and outcomes to improve operations and clinical care.
• Demonstrated expertise to develop and achieve cross-functional strategic plans, key objectives, and measurable KPIs.
• Strong clinical assessment skills. 
• Superior written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
• Able to relate appropriately to, communicate effectively with, and develop trusting relationships with individuals from diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds, lived experiences, and identities
• Ability to engage with others in a considerate and respectful manner and manage conflict proactively.  
• Must be computer literate, able to learn and adapt to different IT platforms; solid command of computer applications and program software, including electronic health records system.

Preferred Qualifications

• Specific experience desired in OSHA, infection control standards, and knowledge of public health mandates.
• Commitment to serving all people with an understanding of how health and culture intersect and how health disparities impact students on a university campus.
• Experience leading team-based care efforts, change management, and physician performance management.  
• Leadership experience in patient-centered medical home and college health environments.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.