Chief Medical Officer | Critical Access Hospital

Priority Dispatch Corp.; Hettinger (ND); On-site; USD 210,000 - 310,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Education support

Licensure reimbursement

Wellness programs

Job summary

West River Health Services in southwestern North Dakota seeks a Chief Medical Officer who balances patient care with strategic leadership. The CMO will supervise medical staff, set clinical standards, and guide quality initiatives across a rural Critical Access Hospital and Health Clinic.

MD or DO with board certification and an unrestricted ND license (or eligibility) is required. Experience in rural health and credentialing is preferred.

Qualifications

• MD or DO required and board-certified in a medical specialty.
• Unrestricted medical license in North Dakota or ability to obtain before start.
• Meets WRHS medical staff membership and credentialing criteria.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care in your specialty when needed.
• Provide strategic leadership and direction to medical staff.
• Establish and maintain clinical best practices and guidelines.
• Oversee recruitment, credentialing, and performance evaluation of medical staff.
• Lead quality improvement, patient safety, and risk management initiatives.
• Represent WRHS on medical advisory boards and in the community.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Strategic leadership

Board certification

Education

MD or DO

Job description

West River Health Services is a mission-driven Critical Access Hospital and Rural Health Clinic serving the residents of southwestern North Dakota. Guided by our core values of Excellence, Innovation, Compassion, and Respect, we're committed to providing the kind of quality health care typically found in larger cities, delivered with small-town friendliness and individual care. We believe our employees are the foundation of that commitment, working together to deliver safe, high-quality, patient-centered care.Position SummaryThe Chief Medical Officer (CMO) serves as both a clinical leader and a practicing physician, in a role structured to be approximately 50% patient-facing and 50% administrative/leadership. This balance keeps the CMO closely connected to patient care while guiding the organization's medical strategy, working alongside the executive team to advance WRHS's mission.Key ResponsibilitiesProvide direct patient care in your specialty area, maintaining a regular patient panelProvide strategic leadership and direction to medical and healthcare staff, ensuring the highest standard of patient care and safetyEstablish and maintain clinical best practices, protocols, and guidelinesOversee medical staff recruitment, credentialing, and performance evaluationDevelop and implement quality improvement, patient safety, and risk management initiativesServe as liaison between medical staff and administration, supporting the physician peer review processCollaborate with executive leadership on strategic goals, and represent WRHS on medical advisory boards and in the communityRequiredDoctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)Board certification in an applicable specialtyCurrent, unrestricted license to practice medicine in North Dakota, or ability to obtain prior to startMeets all criteria for West River Health Services medical staff membership and credentialingPreferredMaster's degree in Health Administration, Business Administration, or a related fieldPrior experience in a medical leadership role (Medical Director, Department Chief, or similar)Experience in a rural, Critical Access Hospital, or similarly resource-constrained clinical settingCompensation & Benefits**Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience, training, and qualifications.**West River Health Services offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include health, dental, and vision insurance; retirement plans; paid time off; continuing education support; professional licensure reimbursement; employee wellness programs; and other benefits available to eligible employees.West River Health Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer.