The Associate Chief Medical Officer (ACMO)

Your future role at a glance 

Location: Kokomo, Indiana

Facility: Ascension St. Vincent Kokomo

Department/Specialty: Clinical leadership

Schedule: TBA

This job location is currently located in a Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) and/or Medically Underserved Areas/Populations (MUA/P) Shortage Designation Typ

Life at Ascension: Where purpose meets opportunity

Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 97,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you’ll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.

Benefits that help you thrive

• Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and HSA/FSA options
• Financial security & retirement: employer-matched 403(b), planning and hardship resources, disability and life insurance
• Time to recharge: paid time off (PTO) and holidays
• Career growth: Ascension-paid tuition (Vocare), reimbursement, ongoing professional development and online learning
• Emotional well-being: Employee Assistance Program, counseling and peer support, spiritual care and stress management resources
• Family support: parental leave, adoption assistance and family benefits
• Other benefits: optional legal and pet insurance, transportation savings and more

How you’ll make an impact in this role

The Associate Chief Medical Officer (ACMO) supports clinical operations, patient flow, and care delivery, supporting the CMO in striving for the Quadruple Aim (quality, patient experience, clinician experience, value) for every patient encounter. This role is accountable for hospital-based performance, throughput, and regulatory readiness.

Support functions include clinical effectiveness, quality outcomes, patient safety, operations, and facility leadership. The ACMO reports directly to the Chief Medical Officer.

Essential Functions:

Oversee Clinical Care & Operations:

○ Leads and implements clinical operations focusing on patient flow, access, and

reliable care delivery.

○ Manages operational performance metrics: LOS, throughput, ED boarding,

admission efficiency, discharge planning, and readmissions.

○ Drives clinical integration and monitors performance.

○ Champions clinical process variation reduction, performance improvement, and high reliability.

○ Provides leadership, education, and support to stakeholders.

○ Supports standardization of clinical processes.

○ Ensures adherence to Ethical and Religious Directives (ERDs) for Catholic

Health Care Services.

○ Leads care coordination development and implementation across the

continuum (inpatient, outpatient, post-acute).

○ Collaborates to implement standard work, escalation pathways, and real-time decision-making for capacity management.

○ Ensures regulatory compliance and accreditation readiness for clinical

operations.

○ Drives adherence to operational quality and safety initiatives for reliable care and sustained improvement.

Physician Services & Relations:

○ Leads hospital-based physician services, including hospitalist programs and

APP integration.

○ Aligns staffing models with patient demand and operational goals.

○ Oversees transfer center operations and access to care, ensuring timely and

appropriate patient placement.

○ Promotes shared leadership and optimal hospital/physician

collaboration/integration.

○ Continuously improves effectiveness of medical staff communications.

○ Engages and supports physician and APP leaders for clinical alignment,

accountability, and a high-performing culture.

Talent Management:

○ Motivates and engages physicians and clinical staff.

○ Supports CMO in physician education, coaching, performance management,

and career development.

Stewardship:

○ Collaborates with stakeholders to optimize utilization management.

○ Collaborates with stakeholder physicians to eliminate waste.

Internal Relations and Communications:

○ Partners with clinical leaders to build effective delivery models.

○ Supports CMO in communicating key issues to medical staff and team.

○ Promotes and supports Ascension Core Values.

○ Collaborates with CMO and senior leadership to translate strategic priorities into operational outcomes.

Additional Duties:

○ Performs other duties as required by the position.

Critical Executive Leadership Competencies:

• Models Integrity and Values: Cares for vulnerable, communicates honestly, fosters trust, serves others, promotes growth and reverence.
• Inspires and Engages People: Presents a transformational vision, clarifies future state and how it supports the mission.
• Cultivates Partnerships: Maintains strategic relationships, considers stakeholder perspectives, promotes fairness.
• Models closed-loop communication: Champions continuous improvement in communication processes by implementing structures that ensure clarity, efficiency,and feedback integration.

Expectations: (including, but not limited to)

• Minimum 2-year commitment
• Regular and effective communication with the CMO
• CORE (Communicate Openly, Respond Empathetically) training to become a CORE leader
• Training on Peer Review, Credentialing, Medical Staff Bylaws, and policies for subject matter expertise

Plan and direct medical policies and programs. Define and achieve financial targets in support of business goals; evaluate organizational functions and structure to best determine the allocation and utilization of services.

Responsibilities:

• Facilitate strategic clinical relationships with physicians. Work with leadership to develop a strategic plan for growth of clinical practice.
• Ensure that clinical programs are in compliance with governmental and regulatory requirements.
• Implement utilization review and quality improvement systems. Implement educational programs and offerings.
• May provide medical services to patients in an assigned area.
• Prepare annual operating budget for assigned service areas.
• Consult with planning and operations leadership in new program development. Supervise any assigned medical/resident programs.

What minimum requirements you’ll need

Licensure / Certification / Registration:

• One or more of the following required:
  
  • Physician MD/DO credentialed from the Indiana Medical Licensing Board obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.
  • Podiatrist credentialed from the Indiana Board of Podiatric Medicine obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.

Education:

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) or Doctor of Optometry (OD) or Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) required.

Equal employment opportunity employer

Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.

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