Description
Associate Chief Quality Officer
Denver Health | Denver, Colorado
Denver Health is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to serve as Associate Chief Quality Officer (ACQO). This enterprise leadership role is responsible for advancing system-wide strategies in quality improvement, patient safety, and performance excellence across one of the nation’s leading integrated safety-net health systems.
Working in close partnership with the Chief Quality Officer, the Associate Chief Quality Officer will help design, implement, and sustain programs that drive measurable improvements in patient outcomes, safety, and value across inpatient, ambulatory, and community care settings. The ACQO collaborates closely with executive leadership, physicians, nurses, residents, and operational leaders to support Denver Health’s vision of being the Most Trusted provider in Colorado.
Denver Health welcomes candidates from clinical and non-clinical leadership backgrounds, including nursing, physician, public health, quality, or healthcare administration professionals.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Quality Leadership
- Partner with the Chief Quality Officer to develop and implement Denver Health’s enterprise-wide quality and patient safety strategy
- Serve as a subject matter expert in quality improvement science, patient safety, and high-reliability healthcare
- Advise executive leadership and governance bodies on quality, safety, and performance trends
Quality & Performance Improvement
- Lead large-scale improvement initiatives to enhance outcomes, reduce variation, and strengthen value-based care
- Drive performance on key quality metrics across ambulatory and acute care settings
- Promote the adoption of evidence-based clinical practice throughout the health system
Patient Safety & Risk Reduction
- Partner with patient safety teams to advance initiatives that promote a culture of safety and just culture principles
- Support event reporting, root cause analysis, and corrective action planning
- Lead initiatives designed to reduce patient harm and improve system reliability
Data, Analytics & Reporting
- Collaborate with analytics teams to translate data into actionable improvement strategies
- Use performance data to identify opportunities and guide decision-making
- Provide proactive, data-driven recommendations to organizational leadership
Leadership & Collaboration
- Mentor and support leaders and staff within the Department of Patient Safety, Quality, and Experience
- Engage physicians, nurses, and frontline teams in improvement initiatives
- Partner with clinical and operational leaders to embed quality and safety into daily practice
Accreditation & Regulatory Compliance
- Support system readiness for regulatory and accreditation surveys
- Ensure alignment with applicable regulatory standards and best practices
The Associate Chief Quality Officer may also maintain an active clinical practice, if applicable.
Qualifications
Education
- Master’s degree in healthcare administration, nursing, public health, quality, or related field with clinical background (RN, PharmD, or other licensed clinician), or
- MD or DO with completion of an accredited residency program
- Additional training in patient safety, public health, or quality improvement preferred
Experience
- 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare quality and patient safety
- Demonstrated success leading large-scale quality improvement initiatives across complex health systems
Certifications (Preferred)
- Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)
- Lean or Six Sigma certification
Knowledge & Skills
- Deep understanding of healthcare quality improvement, patient safety science, and high-reliability organizations
- Experience with regulatory and accreditation standards including The Joint Commission and Medicare Conditions of Participation
- Strong analytical and data interpretation skills
- Excellent communication, facilitation, and leadership abilities
- Demonstrated ability to engage multidisciplinary teams in performance improvement
Interested applicants should apply online at:
