Job Title: Director of Rural Health and Hospitals

FLSA Status: Full time, exempt  

Apply: Click HERE to apply

Colorado Hospital Association (CHA) is the leading voice of Colorado’s hospital and health system community. Representing more than 100 hospitals and health systems throughout the state, CHA serves as a trusted, credible and reliable resource on health issues, hospital data and trends for its members, media, policymakers and the general public. Through CHA, Colorado’s hospitals and health systems work together in their shared commitment to improve health and health care in Colorado. For more information on CHA, visit www.cha.com.

Position Summary:

The Director of Rural Health and Hospitals is responsible for working with and being a resource for CHA members on key operational and health care issues that impact rural hospitals and rural communities in Colorado, federal and state government agencies, professional organizations, and other state and national rural health organizations. This position is also expected to monitor, review and analyze national and state healthcare issues and policies, and communicate information that facilitates member decision making as it relates to a broad range of rural health care issues, including issues related to the management of rural hospitals. The Director of Rural Health and Hospitals is responsible for being knowledgeable on, and for staying abreast of, changes in all facets of rural hospitals and healthcare, and to discern how these changes would impact Colorado’s rural hospitals.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Keep Association staff advised on all significant rural hospital and healthcare issues.
• Represent CHA and its members on rural policy issues that affect rural hospitals and rural communities.
• Monitor, review, and analyze national and state rural health care issues and policies.
• Understand the federal Critical Access Hospital Program Conditions of Participation, provide technical assistance to CHA members on the program, including its impact on internal operational functions, and advise rural hospitals on how to maximize the benefits of the program. Advise members on how to remain in compliance with state licensure requirements.
• Understand the federal PPS Hospital Program Conditions of Participation, and differences between this program and the Critical Access Hospital Program.
• Assist with the development of CHA as a source for data, and financial and quality information for rural hospitals in order to strengthen their overall quality, patient safety, management and financial viability.
• Promote the availability of CHA resources including such things as databases, educational programs and technical assistance to the rural membership and other external groups and provide necessary assistance to maximize the availability of these resources.
• Assist in the development of CHA’s annual advocacy, programmatic and education agenda.
• Serve as the primary staff person responsible for the CHA Rural Hospital Council.
• Assist with the coordination of educational programs for a rural audience, including but not limited to CHA Annual Rural Hospital Conference.
• Perform on-site visits to rural hospitals and the communities they serve; be familiar with and understand the needs of CHA rural hospitals and rural communities.
• Establish personal contact and ongoing liaison with organizations concerned with rural health and hospital issues in Colorado.
• Attend affiliated group meetings, provide CHA updates, and involve CHA in affiliated group projects as appropriate.
• Respond to individual member requests for advice and information.
• Respond to requests for presentations at various meetings and seminars from member hospitals, as well as requests from outside groups or organizations.
• Perform special projects as assigned.

Other Duties:

• As assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Experience required (unless otherwise noted):

• Knowledge of and familiarity with rural hospital challenges as it relates to the sustainability of access to health care in rural Colorado communities required.
• Knowledge of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement and the Critical Access Hospital Program, and the ability to effectively communicate to members required.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in health care, business administration or related field and a minimum of five years of management required. Advanced degreed preferred.
• Health policy or related experience in a hospital, state hospital association, or comparable position required, experience in a rural hospital or health care setting strongly preferred.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position is located at CHA offices in Greenwood Village. Travel may be required for meetings; thus a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation is required.  Travel to in-state hospital locations is not uncommon.

• Working conditions are normal for a fast-paced office work environment.
• Requires considerable travel within Colorado to member facilities.
• Requires occasional overnight travel and weekend and/or evening work.
• Presentation of technical material in group settings required occasionally.
• Individuals may need to sit or stand as needed.
• Requires walking primarily on a level surface for occasional periods throughout the day.
• May include lifting up to 25 pounds of files on a regular basis. Proper lifting techniques required.

Material and Equipment Directly Used:

• Cell phone
• Personal computer with Microsoft Office software applications.
• Software applications including but not limited to database management, statistical analytics, data analytics presentation tools, QuickBooks for not-for-profit organizations
• Multi-line telephone with voice mail

If you experience technical difficulties applying for a position, please contact Angela Sigurdson, CHA director of human resources.

NOTE:  This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job. The employee will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by their supervisor. Nothing in this job description shall create or is intended to create, or shall be construed to constitute a contract of employment, express or implied. Employees are held accountable for all duties of this job.