Quick Leonard Kieffer Seeks Chief Nursing Officer for Providence St. Joseph Health

September 21, 2020 – As the healthcare sector continues to expand and reshape itself, vanguard organizations in the field are looking to bolster their leadership ranks. In demand: multi-skilled executives, physician leaders and nurses who can effect change on many levels. Of the four major C-suite roles in the typical hospital, the chief nursing officer has traditionally been the most difficult to secure, according to recruiters.

Recently, executive recruitment firm Quick Leonard Kieffer was selected by Providence St. Joseph Health (PSJH) to lead its search for a new chief nursing officer. President and CEO Steve Derks is leading the assignment along with principal Joe Johnston.

The chief nursing officer has overall accountability for the leadership, strategic direction, quality, and outcomes of nursing and interprofessional care across the Providence St. Joseph Health system. This individual leads in setting the vision and direction for patient‐centered, evidence-based care delivery in an integrated and team‐based context. The CNO leads in planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the quality and safety of clinical care across the full care continuum.

PSJH wants an executive with a minimum of 15 years of senior nursing leadership experience in a multi‐site and complex health system, said Quick Leonard Kieffer. Candidates should have a doctoral degree in nursing or a healthcare-related discipline (the doctoral degree may replace the master’s requirement where appropriate). The firm is looking for someone who is active in national nursing and healthcare executive organizations.

Providence St. Joseph Health is one of the nation’s largest healthcare providers, reporting over $24 billion in revenue and serving over 13 million patients. The system encompasses 51 hospitals, 1,085 clinics and 16 supportive housing facilities; 119,000 caregivers (all employees), 25,000 physicians and 38,000 nurses; a health plan and 2.1 million covered lives; and 90 non-acute services. PSJH provides a comprehensive range of services across Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington through a diverse family of Catholic, other faith-based, and secular organizations.

Healthcare Recruiters

Founded in 1999, Quick Leonard Kieffer is a retained executive search firm with experience finding leaders for hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, healthcare associations, life sciences companies, insurance companies and non-profits, among other clients. The firm is based in Chicago and has a track record of placing C-suite and other senior executives with leading, well-recognized healthcare organizations around the country.

Mr. Derks has over 25 years of experience in the field, as a CEO assembling executive teams, as a board member helping to select and oversee CEOs and executives, and in his work with clients. He has won a reputation for discerning the strategic leadership needs of organizations, identifying qualified talent and recognizing the best fit for clients. Previously, he served as president and CEO of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Mr. Johnston joined Quick Leonard Kieffer in 2016. He works alongside the firm’s partners, principals and associates in conducting a variety of senior-level healthcare searches for community hospitals, medical groups and large health systems. He has 20 years of experience in executive search. Previously, Mr. Johnston held senior research, knowledge management and recruitment positions at Ray & Berndtson, Korn Ferry and Lantern Partners.

Finding CNO Talent

CNOs have a variety of duties, depending on the facility where they work. Most importantly, the position calls for supervising nurses and nurse managers. CNOs also oversee design and implementation of patient-care delivery, and serve as leaders in their facility’s efforts to maintain outcome levels. They are some of the most sought after and highly visible leaders in the hospital and healthcare environment.

An expanding number of search firms have been working with healthcare organizations to find chief nursing officers in recent months. Here’s a look at a sampling taken from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:

Orlando, FL-headquartered healthcare-focused search firm Kirby Bates Associates (KBA) was called in by Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts to lead in its search for a new chief nursing officer. The assignment is being led by Chris Corwin. “This is an exciting time to be joining Cambridge Health Alliance, an innovative community-based healthcare provider serving a highly diverse population,” the search firm said.

Westmont Search was selected to conduct the search for the chief nursing officer for Essentia Health’s East market based in Duluth, MN. Managing partner Peter Blau and search director Carolyn Lecocq are conducting the assignment for the health system. Westmont Search, located in Westmont, NJ, is a healthcare-focused executive search firm with a singular focus of hiring top health executives to continue to improve the healthcare system. 

Executive recruitment firm Quick Leonard Kieffer was called in by Silver Cross Hospital to help find its next chief nursing officer. Founder and vice chairman Roger Quick is leading the assignment along with principal Joe Johnston. Silver Cross Hospital is a 302-bed acute care/general hospital that was founded in 1895 and is located at its new campus in New Lenox, IL.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media

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