Director of Clinical & Quality Outcomes

Southwest Care Center employees can answer yes to these 3 questions:

1. Do you want to make a difference?

2. Do you believe everyone is entitled to quality healthcare?

3. Do you desire to serve the underserved in your community?

For over 25 years, Southwest Care Center has been providing exceptional healthcare to the communities of Santa Fe and Albuquerque, NM. We are a non-profit, FQHC-LAL providing medical, behavioral health, case management, community outreach, diabetes education, and pharmacy services. We are proud to offer gender equity medicine, syringe exchange, and HIV/Hep C treatment, testing and other services within our communities.

Southwest Care Center is currently seeking an experienced full-time Director of Clinical & Quality Outcomes. This position supports all SCC locations in Santa Fe and Albuquerque; therefore, candidate must reside in the local market area of Albuquerque or Santa Fe, New Mexico and able to travel between the two cities as needed.

Position Details:

Reporting to the Chief Medical Officer, the Director of Clinical & Quality Outcomes position provides leadership and expertise in the management and execution of quality patient care, population health, and regulatory compliance initiatives across the organization. This role is responsible for overseeing key committees and driving performance improvement strategies to enhance patient outcomes, experience, and safety, while ensuring that all clinical and operational functions align with strategic goals.

The position further serves as a subject matter expert, offering guidance on patient safety, risk management, and regulatory preparedness, including the development of policies and procedures to maintain continuous readiness for accreditation and compliance standards such as HRSA, PCMH, and DOH.

Additionally, the role includes managing clinical and administrative support services, overseeing team development, and contributing to the fiscal and operational planning of the department. Through collaboration with multiple departments, the position ensures effective management of chronic conditions, preventative care, and population health campaigns. This role also acts as a liaison between staff, executive leadership, and external entities, including attorneys for litigation-related matters, while promoting innovation and continuous improvement within the organization.

Position responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Leads and manages objectives and outcomes associated with committees related to quality, population health, and regulatory compliance.

• Acts as a resource and subject matter expert in the development and implementation of organization-wide performance improvement initiatives to improve patient outcomes, experience, and safety. Works collaboratively with all departments to ensure strategic goals and outcomes are met.

• Consult with key stakeholders on patient safety activities by being a subject matter expert, identifying threats and hazards, conducting risk assessments, and implementing measures to mitigate ongoing risk.

• Acts as a resource and liaison between SCC and attorneys for litigation related for malpractice, civil suits, and other adverse patient events.

• Serves as the primary contact for continuous readiness for regulatory and accreditation preparedness including HRSA, PCMH, DOH, and others as assigned with oversight of all. Serve as lead and mentor to CHWs, providing training, onboarding, workflow support, and day-to-day guidance.

• Identifies space requirements and provides guidance in the design of operationally functional facilities that support the delivery of quality patient care and support services.

• Maintains CQR software including ensuring information is accurate and updated as needed, managing vendor lists, employee lists, meetings, exclusion screening, policies and procedures, contracts, insurance policies and other key documents.

• Functions as a liaison between SCC and payers to ensure patient’s chronic conditions are being managed through increased visit frequency.

• Ensures AWVs and WCCs are being completed as a benefit provided by the insurance company to focus on prevention.

• Works closely with the Chef Medical Officer in the development of sound Medical Management policies and procedures. Develops tools to evaluate adherence to Medical Management protocols.

• Responsible for the management of all clinical and administrative support services.

• Sets the direction and leads the infrastructure to ensure that clinical and quality department functions are managed within budget and defined goals.

• Assists the Chief Medical Officer and Operations in the development of appropriate clinical/quality programs and monitors quality control for all operational functions.

• Monitors patient care services, ensuring they meet organizational guidelines, and patient needs and develops and implements remediation plans as needed.

• Provides oversight and direction for assigned projects related to clinical products and services. • Identifies work related problems with workable solutions and implements appropriate solutions. Further identifies processes, determines areas for improvement, and sets measurement in place for same.

• Team member management including hiring, training, management, development, coaching, and corrective action.

• Responsible for annual performance evaluations of direct reporting staff.

• Participates in formulating and administering clinic policies and workflows. Continuous monitoring for sustainability and identification of areas of concern.

• Assists in the planning and developing programs and proposals to support current or innovative programs.

• Identifies space requirements and provides guidance in the design of operationally functional facilities that support the delivery of quality patient care and support services.

• Develops departmental strategic operational planning including staffing and fiscal management.

• Annual fiscal planning by analyzing and organizing office operations and procedures to ensure all departmental needs are met.

• Perform ongoing assessment and monitoring of clinical operations.

• Identify needed improvements in clinical operations and direct Clinic Managers and other clinical operations staff to improve areas of concern.

• Function as the resident expert of organizational policies and procedures as they impact the operations of the clinic and/or quality of care.

• Interpret policies when there is question or concern related to the applicability of certain policies.

• Responsible for clinical operations’ regulatory compliance with responsibility for development, implementation, and on-going survey readiness.

• Acts as liaison between Executive Leadership and departmental supervisors and staff.

• Provides feedback to Executive Leadership concerning impacts on patient flow of decisions made at the Executive level.

• Works collaboratively with all departments to ensure strategic goals and outcomes are met.

• Responsible for the CQR Plan development and annual review.

• Maintains professional licensure and development of knowledge and skills needed to bring innovation and expertise to the position.

• Acts as a resource and subject matter expert in the development and implementation of organization-wide performance improvement initiatives to improve patient outcomes, experience, and safety.

• Other duties as assigned.

Candidate Highlights:

• Experience: Minimum (5) years’ experience in a primary care/ambulatory clinic setting serving in a senior management role with decision making oversight of all the aforementioned areas which include Quality Assurance, Population Health Management, Risk and Compliance, and Clinic Management. Preferably at least (3) years’ experience in a similar role at a Federally Qualified Health Center or FQHC Look-Alike. Athena experience highly desired. Proven experience with regulatory compliance is critical for success in this role.

• Education: Minimum bachelor’s degree in healthcare related field, business administration, or another related field. Master’s degree preferred.

• License/Certification: Valid NM driver’s license and BLS required. Valid RN license highly preferred.

Employment Highlights:

• Monday - Friday typical schedule.

• Competitive salary.

• Great work/life balance with generous time off plans.

• Full benefits package includes medical, dental, vision, 401k with substantial employer contribution, paid time off, professional development programs, and 340B prescription access.

Interested in this Position? Need More Information?

Apply today and we will connect you with a member of our recruitment team. We look forward to speaking with you soon.
If you experience difficulty applying or need assistance please contact HR@southwestcare.org.

*Please note, we are unable to respond to resume inquiries.

Living & Working in New Mexico:

The Land of Enchantment offers residents a way of life that you won’t find anywhere else in the United States. Our clinic locations are in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, NM. Each with its own unique vibe and both offering all the perks you get when you call New Mexico Home.

• Rich cultural and historical diversity.
• 310 days of sunshine, combined with a mild, dry climate and four distinct seasons! You’ll forget what humidity is when you live here.
• Unlimited year-round outdoor opportunities including hiking, rock-climbing, rafting, motorized sports, and even skiing. Yes, we have really big ski mountains in and around the deserts of New Mexico!
• Diverse and inclusive communities with amazingly kind people from all walks of life.
• Gorgeous landscapes that include desert and majestic mountains. New Mexico has to be to be seen to believe.
• Continuous festivals, concerts, and events including the internationally known Balloon Fiesta of Albuquerque.
• International airport providing low-cost, quick access in-country and out.
• Big city amenities found in Albuquerque with easy access from Santa Fe (50 min). Many of our employees commute between these cities. Both cities are connected by the NM rail system for those looking for a relaxing commute with a breath-taking view.
• Great schools and family friendly communities.
• And let’s not forget about New Mexican cuisine—it is some of the best food in the country. Will you have red or green?

Southwest Care Center is an equal opportunity employer. We offer equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law.

Job Details:

Location:

NM Santa Fe - Admin Galisteo

Worker Type:

Employee

Regular

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40