University Physicians, Inc.

Executive Director/CEO Job Description


Description of UPI
UNIVERSITY PHYSICIANS, INC. (UPI), the centralized faculty practice plan for the University of Colorado School of Medicine, is recruiting an Executive Director to serve as the Chief Executive Officer. UPI is a 501(c)3 corporation which provides practice and business management services for the 1000+ faculty physicians at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. UPI's gross charges for 2009-10 were ~$740 million and total revenues were ~$350 million.

The CEO will provide vision and direction that aligns UPI’s core business functions with the missions and goals of the physicians of the School of Medicine. The faculty practice plan has a commitment to excellence in the clinical enterprise, and the CEO provides strategic direction to faculty and the affiliated hospital leadership. In addition to providing core revenue cycle activities, UPI actively provides support and direction for joint ventures between the practice plan and the affiliated hospitals. UPI provides Network Management services and has an equity ownership stake in an insurance product. In addition, UPI provides Health Plan Development services and management of a self-insurance trust. The CEO actively participates in all aspects of strategic planning and development of these services and activities. UPI also oversees and is responsible for treasury functions and active cash management of a $100 million+ portfolio. The CEO participates in decisions directly impacting treasury and investment strategies. In addition to standard practice plan activities, UPI also manages its 200,000 sq ft administrative office building. UPI has a history of providing active leadership in health care and payment reform, and will continue to move the academic health care agenda forward.

This position is an opportunity for a dynamic leader to join a centralized faculty practice plan and provide leadership to enhance strategic growth, promote ongoing success in a complex academic health care environment, provide leadership to move the academic health care agenda forward, and continually enhance the collaborative relationship with the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Reporting Relationships
The position reports to the President of UPI (Dean of the School of Medicine), and through the President, to the UPI Board of Directors.

Responsibilities and Working Relationships
The Executive Director serves as the Chief Executive Officer of UPI and is responsible for accomplishing the UPI mission and furthering the value of UPI. The Executive Director provides executive leadership over all phases of UPI operation, including fiscal and treasury operations, marketing, managed care contracting, clinical revenue cycle management, IT, compliance, network and business development and strategic planning and advocacy.

The Executive Director is the representative of UPI to the School of Medicine (SOM), the University, the departmental chairs and administrators, affiliated hospitals and the business community. The Executive Director should provide leadership that continually enhances UPI as the physician practice plan of the SOM. The Executive Director will provide leadership to the affiliate hospitals that ensures successful integration (physicians and UPI administrative functions) of the practice plan with affiliate hospital strategies and operations that impact the clinical practice plan.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director are the COO, CFO, Director of Managed Care Contracting and Network Development, Director of Business Development, and Executive Assistant.

Specific Responsibilities
The Executive Director shall demonstrate leadership in management, operations, fiscal affairs, strategic planning, and the policy formulation process either directly or through delegation to Directors. The Executive Director responsibilities shall include but not be limited to:

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of UPI and implement necessary changes in UPI administrative organization and staffing.
  • Recruit, develop, and retain qualified staff needed to carry out the mission of UPI.
  • Continually analyze current staffing, financing, operations, policies, systems and procedures, and develop and implement necessary changes that maximize UPI operational excellence and efficiency.
  • Develop and oversee infrastructure that optimizes all elements of the UPI Administration clinical revenue cycle. Develop and maintain appropriate information technology systems and analytic capability which monitor and enhance the organization's performance and business processes and facilitate enhanced management and strategic decision making. Coordinate UPI IT infrastructure and IT needs with affiliated hospitals and campus IT infrastructure and networks as appropriate.
  • Maintain appropriate and ongoing audit functions to ensure that UPI adheres to generally accepted accounting principles and all relevant regulations and requirements relative to sustaining not-for-profit status.
  • Maintain systems, policies, processes and training that support UPI Administration and UPI faculty compliance with all relevant federal and state requirements.
  • Ensure UPI is in compliance with all relevant and applicable University Board of Regents and SOM rules.
  • Oversee contracting for management, administrative, consulting and legal services.
  • Provide effective stewardship and management of UPI financial resources and assets.
  • Oversee preparation of UPI Administrative budgets, and the development of transparent and relevant fiscal and operational reports. Implement effective financial models, cost and revenue allocation strategies.
  • Negotiate with insurance companies, hospitals, and managed care organizations for appropriate reimbursement.
  • Interface with government and non-government regulatory and accrediting agencies and provide effective advocacy on behalf of UPI’s faculty members and clinical programs.
  • Determine current and future market conditions and evaluate the UPI’s competitive position. Develop/implement strategic objectives and tactical plans that maintain the UPI’s competitive position in the health care market.
  • Maintain close liaison with the UPI Board of Directors, UPI Executive Committee, and Department Chairs. Provide UPI administrative support in matters relating to UPI quality assurance, UPI professional program management and liaison with professional and community organizations.
  • Participate in meetings of the UPI Board of Directors, UPI Executive Committee, and other board committees and assist with developing meeting agendas.
  • Inform UPI members on business, market, and political factors affecting the health care environment.
  • Represent UPI in leadership functions and structures coordinating UPI, UCH and TCH clinical endeavors.
  • Actively participate in SOM leadership team strategic planning and ensure that UPI’s operations and resources adhere to UPI’s primary purpose as an organization founded to support missions of SOM under direction of the Dean of the School of Medicine.
  • Maintain the national presence of UPI within the healthcare industry, all relevant academic health care associations. Maintain a statewide presence for UPI among the health care industry and business community.
  • Communicate effectively with medical, professional, administrative, and other personnel, to effectively present information both orally and in written form.
  • Work collaboratively with SOM leadership to continually ensure that UPI administration is aligned with and responsive to the needs of the physicians of the SOM.

Qualifications and Experience
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 10 years of senior management level experience in academic health care as well as executive level practice plan management. Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree in business/public administration is preferred but not required if experience is commensurate with responsibilities of this position. Preference will be given to individuals who also have the qualifications to serve as Senior Associate Dean for Administration and Finance of the School of Medicine (see attached job description). At a minimum, successful candidates should demonstrate previous collaborative experience with and understanding of School of Medicine academic missions and programs. Relevant hospital, multi-specialty clinic, and/or other health care industry experience will be considered.

Desired Characteristics
The successful candidate will possess proven ability to conceptualize, develop and implement large complex projects; provide dynamic leadership and creative solutions to challenges; be transparent and collaborative in a highly matrixed organization; be an effective communicator and presenter; provide strong and effective advocacy of the centralized practice plan and school issues; recruit, retain, and mentor a strong management team; demonstrate understanding of health care reform and health care policy; develop trust, credibility and support of department chairs, faculty and administrators.