DSHS ESH Chief Medical Officer

Chief Medical Officer – Eastern State Hospital

We are in search of a self‑motivated, forward‑thinking physician to fill a vital leadership role in which the passion for partnering with people who need access to care and support is displayed every day. At Eastern State Hospital (ESH), our Chief Medical Officer will thrive in a collaborative, inclusive, and psychologically safe environment where high‑quality, patient‑focused care is our mission.

ESH is a 375‑bed inpatient psychiatric hospital accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC) and certified by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The hospital opened in 1891 in picturesque Medical Lake, Washington, and provides long‑term psychiatric care to adult civil, forensic, geriatric and habilitative mental health patients.

• Innovative Leader:
  Responsible and accountable for the administration and coordination of psychiatric and medical services, providing consultation on clinical matters related to nursing, rehabilitation, and other professional services. Direct and coordinate psychiatric and medical services through supervisory meetings, unit rounds, and resource review, and designate staff assignments to meet ESH goals.
• Strategic Partner:
  Collaborate with executive and senior leadership teams to meet organizational goals, optimize processes, and deliver services. Perform leadership and executive duties in planning, developing, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating clinical and professional services.
• Strategic Direction:
  Participate in the development and implementation of ESH’s strategic direction, ensuring it is articulated to medical staff and effectively delegated to achieve timely execution of goals and objectives. Direct program development and implementation of all medical and psychiatric initiatives.
• Talent Development:
  Lead the transformation of clinical leadership into collaborative, high‑performing teams. Supervise clinical and professional services through subordinate physicians and provide guidance in medical and clinical patient management.
• Data‑Driven Visionary:
  Utilize technology and data to build relationships and foster continuous performance improvement, supporting the state’s mental health service delivery system and collaborating with leaders from behavioral health organizations.
• Policy Alignment:
  Align hospital clinical practices with all applicable policies to ensure internal consistency of data reporting systems.
• Compliance:
  Ensure the Medical Department’s compliance with regulations, laws, procedures and policies, including Department of Health regulations, Revised Code of Washington (RCW), Washington Administrative Code (WAC), professional standards of practice, and DSHS/BHHA/ESH policies.

Occasional travel between facilities and headquarters may be required. The role is office‑based but also requires circulating throughout the facility for rounding, case conferences, supervision of care delivery, and communication of executive leadership policies and information. These activities may involve patient units with potential for assaults and violence.

Professionals with a valid license to practice medicine and surgery in the state of Washington, including Certification in General Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and demonstrated medical executive leadership experience are encouraged to apply.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining applicant suitability and competence to perform the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver’s license; employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

Questions? Email jourdan.kovacs.gov with reference 00130. For more information, visit www.dshs.wa.gov
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