Who Should the Director of Surgical Services Report To?
Recently we polled the community about to whom they would like to report: CEO, COO, CNO, or “Other.” The results? Chief Operating Officer edged out Chief Nursing Officer, 49 to 42.
In follow up interviews I asked for more detail. CNO or COO? The theme I heard back was “do I have to pick just one?”
The community wants a connection to the Chief Nursing Officer for regulatory support. “When you rip out the clinical aspect… there could be some major impacts.” Said Amy Young a perioperative consultant that focuses on Org Chart structure.
Jeff Lawrence explains why 49% voted for the COO: “The Director of Surgical Services has oversight to strategic planning and resource allocation of one of the largest profitable servicesin an organization. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer ensures Surgical Services aligns with the overall operations and organizational goals.”
So: Both. With a dotted line to one and a direct line to the other.
An interesting wrinkle came from a System VP of Surgical Services, Susan Torti of BayCare. She wants the site directors to report to her, clearly implying the job description for a System Executive as both the strategic planning of a COO and regulatory support of a CNO.
Your feedback is invaluable in shaping our path forward, and we deeply appreciate your engagement. Together, we’ll ensure Surgical Services continues to thrive and excel.
Best,
CEO of Whitman Partners
