Job Description

About the Organization:

Eastern State Hospital (ESH) is a 375-bed inpatient psychiatric hospital accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC)and certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Established in 1891 and located in Medical Lake, Washington (15 miles west of Spokane), ESH provides long-term psychiatric treatment to adult civil, forensic, geriatric, and habilitative patients.

The hospital’s mission is to deliver high-quality, patient-centered psychiatric care in a collaborative and inclusive environment, while serving as a training site for future psychiatric and medical professionals in partnership with Washington State’s academic institutions.

Job Description:

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) provides strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for all hospital-based psychiatric and medical services. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and serving as a voting member of the Governing Body, the CMO is responsible for guiding the clinical direction of the hospital, supervising senior medical staff, and ensuring alignment with regulatory standards.

The ideal candidate will be an accomplished psychiatric physician leader with a track record of building high-performing teams, implementing data-driven improvements, and fostering a culture of safety, inclusion, and recovery-oriented care.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic oversight of all psychiatric, medical, and clinical services.
• Supervise attending psychiatrists, physicians, and advanced practice providers.
• Partner with executive leadership on organizational strategy, quality improvement, and compliance initiatives.
• Lead clinical teams through supervision, mentorship, and professional development.
• Ensure adherence to Joint Commission, CMS, Department of Health regulations, Revised Code of Washington (RCW), Washington Administrative Code (WAC), professional standards of practice, and DSHS/BHHA/ESH policies.
• Ensure adherence to Joint Commission, CMS, and state/federal regulations.
• Oversee credentialing, peer review, and clinical performance evaluation.
• Participate in hospital rounds, case conferences, and unit supervision at least three days per week.
• Guide the development of new psychiatric programs and evidence-based practices.
• Collaborate with academic partners to support medical education and training programs.
• Promote data-driven decision-making and leverage technology for performance improvement.

Office-based but also required to circulate throughout the facility for activities such as rounding, case conferences, supervision of care delivery and communication of executive leadership policies and information. These activities require visiting patient units where there is potential for assaults and violence.

Requirements

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO).
• Valid license to practice medicine and surgery in Washington State (or eligibility to obtain), including Certification in General Psychiatry by the ABPN and demonstrated medical executive leadership experience.
• Board Certification in Psychiatry (ABPN or equivalent).
• Proven executive leadership experience in psychiatric or hospital settings.
• Strong understanding of federal, state, and local regulations and accreditation processes.

Benefits

• Comprehensive package including medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid leave, CME stipend, malpractice insurance, relocation assistance, and PSLF eligibility

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