Open Healthcare Leadership Positions

Health System, Ambulatory Director of Operations

The University of Kansas Health System

The University of Kansas Health System is looking for a Health System Director of Ambulatory Operations. The position has overall responsibility and accountability for the Health System’s Ambulatory role of Operations.

Position Filled ✓

The Opportunity

The University of Kansas Health System is the region’s premier academic medical center, with annual ambulatory volumes of more than 1 million completed appointments, including 165,000 telehealth appointments, over 100 clinics and multiple locations in the Kansas City metro as well as across the state.

The Health System Director of Ambulatory Operations has overall responsibility and accountability for the Health System’s Ambulatory role of Operations which includes the goals, objectives, responsibilities, skills, abilities, knowledge and experience to organize, govern, enable, manage, analyze, plan, execute, control, monitor, measure, improve and assure the specific functions noted below are integrated and coordinated across the enterprise.

The Health System Director of Ambulatory Operations directs ambulatory practice operational activities to ensure accomplishment of objectives. Analyzes quantitative performance results and advises the management team to ensure operational efficiency, quality service and financial profitability through short and long-range action planning in order to achieve and maintain growth. Leads efforts to standardize operations across practice sites, identify synergies and implement best practices and process improvement. Continually evaluates practice strategies and plans to meet changing national, state, and local needs. Ensures the maintenance of quality patient care and adherence to federal, state, local laws and regulations. Oversees the operations and activities of the Practice/Network and management company except those activities directly involving the practice of medicine. Maintains responsibility for operations and activities across multiple sites. Supports and adheres to The University of Kansas Code of Ethics and Business Standards.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ambulatory Operations:

Is accountable preparing, reviewing, communicating and achieving annual ambulatory and department budgets, staffing, productivity, supply chain, capital, space and lean standard work plan.
Partners with executives, senior leadership, department leadership/management and process owners to identify, prioritize and address ambulatory operations optimization across the health system aligning with Board and Ambulatory Management Committee goals.
Serves as Secretary to the Ambulatory Management Committee of the Board’s Practice Improvement and Optimization Subcommittee (PIO) to gain approval for ambulatory and department budgets, staffing, productivity, supply chain, capital and lean standard work plan goals and related projects
Evaluates general and specific business conditions as they relate to operational issues and advises Ambulatory leadership and the department chairs/service chiefs and administrators on these matters.
Directs the development and implementation of organizational procedures and controls to promote communication and adequate information flow within the organization’s policies, procedures, and guidelines.
Develops, demonstrates knowledge of, approves, and provides guidance on policies, procedures, and standard ambulatory workflows across the health system.
Ensures compliance and adherence to the organization’s structure, management philosophy, and mission statements.
Oversee practice liaisons in their role with referring physician outreach activities
Oversees the administrative business support services i.e. Desk, HIMS, etc.
Effectively uses program and project management tools and personnel to manage projects and communicate, to stakeholders, each project life cycle stage.
Participates on or presents to national societies, etc. recognizing the University of Kansas Health System as leader and demonstrated best practices.

Ambulatory Standard Workflow and Process Improvement:

Is accountable for lean standard operating procedures and regularly engages the Ambulatory Practice Committee of the Board via the Practice Improvement and Optimization Subcommittee.
Provides vision and direction for development and implementation of standard workflows across the system.
Uses Lean Management System principles and processes.
Represents Ambulatory and serves as lean global process owner, and coach/instructor.
Assures departments clinical and administrative standard work adherence. Works with department leaders and managers to foster improvement.

Capital and Facilities Planning:

Partners with department leaders, strategic planning and business development, and the VP of Ambulatory Services and Practice Management preparing an ambulatory growth and sustainability strategic plan and annual plan. Is accountable for recommending the annual capital and facilities plan to the Ambulatory Practice Committee of the Board via the Practice Improvement and Optimization Subcommittee.
Is accountable for recommending ambulatory facility standards e.g. signage, exam room design, etc.
Partners with facilities team to ensure facilities are maintained to patient and provider standards.
Considers present and planned capacity. In financial terms, considers manpower and practice needs, including facilities and technology.
Oversees development and coordination of new office locations or relocation. Oversees the correct use of revenue cycle functions, policies, and procedures and education of all staff.

Staffing:

Ensures effective administrative and clinical staff coverage for the practice within budgetary guidelines. Monitor, analyze, assess, and communicate practice progress to department leadership,
Uses recognized benchmarking organization to provide comparative staffing ratios and productivity i.e. MGMA, Vizient, etc.
Develops and maintains accurate and reliable staffing tools.

Sustainability:

Is accountable for developing an accurate annual budget (capital, space, personnel, expense/revenue) as well as adhering to the budget. Requests approval and provides ongoing engagement of the Ambulatory Practice Committee of the Board via the Practice Improvement and Optimization Subcommittee.
Works collaboratively with Supply Chain Management to ensure Ambulatory supply formulary is developed and maintained, Lean 5S is used across departments/clinics, and organizationally meet the supply expense per wRVU annual target.
Coordinate review of equipment with Biomed that includes regular assessment and planning for replacement as well as incremental needs.
Prepare and monitor financial and operating reports and present to appropriate stakeholders.

Analytics:

Directs the preparation and maintenance of management reports necessary to carry out functions of the practice.
Prepares periodic reports as necessary or required
Analyze this data, identify gaps, develop a plan and lead implementation strategies to make necessary optimizations and improvements.
Design and implement tracking procedures and improvement processes that assure sustainability of operations

Growth and Access:

Coordinates new business partnerships/relationships (i.e., employer, technology, health care vendor, etc.) and ensures operational practice integration.

Oversees new business growth, financial analyses application and leadership presentation (i.e., new clinical programs e.g. Womens’ Health Program, Gender Transition Program, etc.)

Qualifications and Requirements

Education

Bachelors degree required

Experience

At least 5 years of practice management is required.
Experience working with ambulatory clinics is preferred.

Licenses/Certification

Special Skills

Additional

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone with extensive experience working in ambulatory operations with a large scope of responsibility. This Director will be working with (but not managing directly) 3100 FTE’s, covering 36 locations and 150 clinics.

The ideal person will have a strong understanding of monitoring performance and setting an annual budget across all sites. Must be proficient in understanding and managing staffing ratios and labor productively using MGMA regulations. Additionally, this leader must have a solid background in physician productivity to write business plans and proformas and knows how to work across disciplines.

More About the Organization

4000 Cambridge St.

Kansas City,

Kansas

66160

The University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City is a world-class academic medical center and destination for complex care and diagnosis. We offer more options for patients with serious conditions because of our expertise and leadership in medical research and education. Our physicians are researchers and educators expanding the boundaries of medical knowledge. Their major breakthroughs lead to the life-changing treatments and technologies of the future.

As part of an academic health system serving the people of Kansas, the region and beyond, The University of Kansas Health System will enhance the health and wellness of the communities we serve. This is our mission.

We are committed to providing the highest quality care to all Kansans – not only in Kansas City, but across the state, region, and globally. It’s our responsibility to extend the reach of academic medicine to more Kansans so patients can stay closer to home and receive the most advanced care possible.

We’ve been working to fulfill this mission since 1998, when The University of Kansas Hospital began as an independent authority.

When people get their healthcare close to home, they can focus on healing rather than the many stresses of travel. That’s why we support keeping care close to home.

We do this by supporting the continued operation of hospitals and clinics and by expanding into communities across Kansas:

Main Campus in Kansas City, Kansas
Great Bend Campus, including Great Bend Family Medicine and St. Rose Medical Pavilion, in Great Bend
Indian Creek Campus in Overland Park
St. Francis Campus in Topeka
Olathe Health Medical Center in Olathe, KS – Olathe Health joined The University of Kansas Health System in January 2023.

We also keep care close to home by using technology and communication to bring advanced healthcare services into communities across the state. Examples include:

Investing in technology

Through technology, we can expand our services to patients while they remain in their communities. For example, people in western Kansas with complex neurological disorders like ALS participate in telemedicine appointments with neuroscience specialists in Kansas City. These specialists work with a local care team to assess each patient’s condition and provide ongoing care.

Providing expert physicians to more communities

Our physicians, many of whom specialize in treating complex illnesses, travel to communities throughout Kansas and Missouri to provide care that would otherwise not be available. For example, our kidney transplant physicians based in Kansas City conduct clinics in Wichita for those who are waiting for organ transplantation and those who need follow-up care after transplant.

Improving care through The University of Kansas Health System Care Collaborative

Our physicians and other clinicians collaborate with care providers across Kansas through this network of more than 50 hospitals, plus additional clinics and EMS teams, in 56 Kansas counties. Together, collaborative members work to improve the health of people living in rural and urban communities, using evidence-based models of care to improve outcomes and decrease costs. Care areas include heart attack, stroke, heart failure and sepsis.

Acquiring facilities when it makes sense for the communities

In today’s healthcare environment, smaller communities can find it difficult to sustain their local hospitals. By joining The University of Kansas Health System, hospitals within these communities ensure access to better healthcare close to home. They also preserve a key driver of the economy in their community.

As part of the region’s premier academic health system, we take our responsibility to provide the best care for our communities very seriously. As we reimagine healthcare for Kansas City, our region and beyond, we strive to create innovative ways to give citizens access to nationally ranked care close to home.

We embraced this mission in 1998 when The University of Kansas Hospital began as an independent authority. We have driven progress for more than 2 decades and have no plans to stop.

Our steadfast commitment to healthcare excellence has earned our health system accolades that inspire confidence in patients and their loved ones. You have choices when evaluating healthcare options. These distinctions can help you determine which hospitals provide the best care for routine and serious or complex conditions.

Our recognition includes:

Earned 4 consecutive Magnet designations from the American Nurses Accrediting Center for nursing excellence. Fewer than 9% of U.S. hospitals have attained Magnet designation, and far fewer have earned it 4 times.
Recognized as a Leader in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality by the Human Rights Campaign. Our health system is 1 of 495 healthcare facilities in the nation to earn Leader status.

While we appreciate these honors, they don’t mean our work is finished. In fact, they signify a journey that is only beginning. They underscore our position and charge to extend leading academic medicine across the state of Kansas – and beyond.

Still the Best Hospital

We are proud to still be the No. 1 hospital in Kansas and in Kansas City according to U.S. News & World Report – the only hospital to receive this award since its inception. As the best hospital, we deliver unmatched care and unrivaled outcomes, year after year.

We are an equal employment opportunity employer without regard to a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, ancestry, age (40 or older), disability, veteran status or genetic information.

Leadership

Russell R. Rein, MBA, MHA, FACMPE

Vice President, Ambulatory Services & Practice Management

Russell Rein serves as the Vice President, Ambulatory Services & Practice Management for The University of Kansas Health System. The University of Kansas Health System is a respected academic medical center and destination for complex care and diagnosis. For 14 years, The University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City has ranked among U.S. News & World Report’s top 50 hospitals. The health system includes more than 100 locations, more than 14,000 employees and more than 1,000 physicians.
Russell previously worked for Mayo Clinic for 28 years holding leadership positions in surgery, cardiovascular services, imaging, managed care, systems engineering and capital management. Russell has also worked for Barnes Health System and William Beaumont Hospital.

Russell completed his Master of Health Administration and Business Administration at St. Louis University and his undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, where he played foot ball and baseball. He is married to Janet and has two children, Sarah a University of Utah Cancer Studies Manager, and Justin an Army Ranger 75th Regiment.