Summit Talent Group Initiates Search for UH System Chief Nurse Executive

University Hospitals (UH) has retained Summit Talent Group to conduct a national search for the position of System Chief Nursing Executive (CNE). University Hospitals (UH) is a health system of distinction:
• $4.1b in net patient revenue, serving Northeast Ohio
• 18 hospitals, including three joint ventures, with deep clinical expertise in virtually every specialty field and the largest primary care network serving the region
• UH Cleveland Medical Center a 1,032-bed tertiary medical center is an affiliate of Case Western Reserve University.
• UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital
• UH Seidman Cancer Center is part of National Cancer Institute-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Centers.

The UH Imperative
UH uses a strategy of system-ness to leverage its resources, create greater value in the communities served, and build trust with patients. Extending well beyond the organization’s considerable clinical capabilities, UH focuses on enhancing operations to facilitate ease of access to skilled physicians in primary care and specialties, and offers extensive resources to support treatments, care, prevention, and well-being.

University Hospitals Clinical Network (UHCN)
Under the leadership of Dr. Christopher Miller, President of the UH Clinical Network, the UHCN utilizes a foundational blueprint for clinical practice optimization, management, and innovation; a robust clinical service delivery model where clinical disciplines are united in their partnership to integrate, evolve, and align as a system through the strength of market segments:
• data-driven system processes and guidelines
• evidence-based operationally efficient leading practices
• cost-effective resource deployment
• best-in-class patient experience within a continuous improvement and learning organization
• ongoing efforts to further integrate the delivery of care and evolve the health system for success as a value-based organization

The UH System CNE
Reporting to Dr. Miller, CNE will be responsible and accountable for the overall delivery and management of nursing operations, professional practice, education, professional development, research, administration, and clinical services. S/he will have staff accountability for enhancing a clinical practice environment that is patient centered, with unsurpassed patient experience, clinical quality and patient safety while also providing significant contributions to education and research. The CNE is the most senior nurse executive in the health system and is a crucial member of the Clinical Network Executive Leadership Team, serving as a peer with the Chief Quality Officer, Chief Medical Officer, and other physician executives.

Named as an Endowed Chair for Nursing Leadership, the CNE position will build the nursing organization of the future, demonstrating an executive presence that is intentional, influential, visionary, and transformative – aligned with the organization’s Mission: To Heal. To Teach. To Discover.

Under the operational leadership of the System CNE, the incumbent has responsibility to lead a unified system nursing structure, which is an integral component of the UH clinical community; direct reports to the system CNE include:
• Associate Chief Nursing Officers (ACNOs) for the UH East, West and Academic Markets
• Director, Nursing Education
• Director, Nursing Research
• Director, Clinical Resources Management
• Director, Psychiatry Nursing

The incumbent provides direction and leadership for all aspects of patient care to ensure integration of nursing services and alignment with the System’s strategic goals and objectives, including the provision of excellent quality services and strengthening of the clinical enterprise as a true full-service, integrated health system. In addition, the CNE guides the execution of the strategic plan to achieve the departmental and organizational mission. Championing the high standards and goals for nursing practice & clinical integration, the CNE motivates and engages nurses to achieve even higher levels of performance.

The CNE brings expertise to the following foundational operational competencies:
• System Integration
o Alignment of service lines and clinical programs
o Partnership with physicians and other licensed professionals
o System engineering, quality improvement and/or process redesign
o Utilization of EHR, data mining, metrics, and dashboards
• Workforce Development & Planning
o Retention
o Turnover
o Recruitment
o Learning and professional growth
• Academic & Community Affiliations
o Nursing school partnerships
o Research programs & grants
o National benchmarks
o Awards & recognition
o Presentations to Board of Directors and National Committees

The ideal candidate will have earned (or in process of earning) a DNP and have at least seven years executive leadership experience in a large, complex, tertiary healthcare organization. Proven influencing skills with peers, colleagues, strategic vendors, regulatory agencies, Board & faculty, and community leaders (managing the white space on an organizational chart) leading to service excellence, high patient & employee satisfaction, continuous quality improvement processes, and execution of strategic imperatives is the measure for a successful candidacy. In-depth knowledge of the business of healthcare: trends, finance, capital budgets, value-based care, provisions of care, and delivery systems. An active RN license in the State of Ohio is required (at/about time of hire).

For more information about the UH System Chief Nurse Executive search and to apply, click here.