At Houston Methodist, the Vice President (VP) Virtual Care position is responsible for the strategy, operations, and enterprise-wide growth of Virtual Health services. This system-level executive position leads virtual care transformation with a focus on workforce optimization, financial sustainability, and advancing enterprise growth through strategic business development. Reporting directly to executive leadership, the VP Virtual Care position is accountable for strategic growth and operational excellence, establishing Virtual Care as an integrated enterprise service line and cultivating a high-performance, inclusive culture that develops leaders and engages teams across the system which includes shaping organizational readiness for innovation, strengthening alignment across hospitals, and supporting the advancement of clinical and operational leaders engaged in digital care delivery. This position drives disciplined execution of virtual health innovation in partnership with operational leaders, overseeing vendor contracts, physician workforce strategies, and ROI development with accountability for demonstrating financial value and long-term sustainability, ensuring virtual care programs deliver measurable improvements in access, efficiency, and quality across the enterprise. The VP Virtual Care position collaborates with hospital leadership teams, demonstrating measurable success and impact from virtual care initiatives to build confidence in enterprise strategy while partnering with system leadership to develop strategic project pipelines including service expansion and innovative care delivery models. The position also drives cross-functional collaboration to align virtual care projects with organizational objectives, identify centralization opportunities and workforce transformation initiatives, and solve complex digital health challenges across the enterprise.

This position reports directly to Executive leadership in the organization and has responsibilities which include providing management and oversight of multiple areas and entities, as appropriate, and driving Houston Methodist's mission, vision, values, and commitment to excellence. Demonstrating a proven record of successful strategic planning, developing long-range goals and implementation, this position manages a diverse, interprofessional team, collaborating with stakeholders to achieve mutual goals. Directly and indirectly overseeing management staff with the goal of enhancing professional development and personal growth, this position forms and leads internal teams, providing training and mentorship as needed. This position collaborates with all senior leadership to meet the organization's objectives, ensuring operational initiatives are implemented, setting business goals, and solving internal issues when needed. Responsible for the assigned areas' policy and procedure development, revision, and implementation. This position is also accountable for employee engagement, adequate staffing levels, budget development and compliance, to ensure a safe and effective work environment. This position ensures compliance with ethical and legal business practices and accreditation/regulatory/government regulations.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides direction to management team to enable the effective and efficient completion of objectives. Gives timely guidance and feedback to direct report management to strengthen their specific knowledge/skill areas needed for progression. Holds direct reporting management team accountable for the development of staff to meet overall objectives in terms of quality, service and cost effectiveness.

• Identifies opportunities and takes action to build strategic relationships between one's area and other departments to achieve business goals. Works collaboratively with stakeholders to foster a climate of open communication and mutual problem-solving.

• Develops efficient organizational structures within scope of assignment. Provides leadership for management team to maintain a competent and engaged employee group and provides recognition/commendations to achieve desired outcomes. Drives initiatives to meet or exceed threshold goal for department turnover and/or system metrics on employee engagement indicators.

• Leads and develops virtual care management teams, setting clear goals for quality, service, and cost. Builds leadership capacity at all levels, fosters professional growth, and holds leaders accountable for results. Creates an environment that promotes trust, collaboration, and sustained engagement in a dynamic digital health environment.

• Collaborates with hospital CEOs and system leadership teams to identify virtual care needs, goals and objectives for strategic growth projects across the Houston Methodist enterprise. Fosters open communication and problem-solving across departments to align enterprise strategy and local operations.

• Shapes physician workforce and alignment strategies, including compensation models, to optimize virtual care delivery and ensure consistent clinical coverage across all service lines.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops and implements strategic and operational/high-level projects and processes. Sets clear goals, priorities, and objectives for the direct report management team. Oversees multiple departments' operations and designated projects to ensure that goals or objectives are accomplished within the prescribed time frame, providing guidance to management team to ensure the best possible delivery of service and high customer/patient satisfaction. Oversees day-to-day operations of virtual care, improving workflows, expanding programs, and scaling services to meet growing demand.

• Drives HM service standards and activities to impact system score for patient/customer-based satisfaction, through role modeling and fostering accountability. Responsible for the overall successful operation of the direct report management team.

• Drives collaboration across the organization to identify needs and develop scalable solutions. Prioritizes objectives and implements strategies to achieve organization initiatives as part of the executive leadership team. Delegates responsibilities to direct report management, providing guidance and direction, as appropriate.

• Unifies and scales virtual care services across all Houston Methodist entities, identifying and implementing centralization and workforce transformation opportunities to drive operational efficiency, cost reduction, and strategic workforce optimization. Directs the full spectrum of virtual care business operations, from billing and reimbursement to compliance and other enterprise functions, ensuring operational discipline while enabling growth and long-term sustainability.

• Owns vendor contract strategy and portfolio, accountable for negotiation, performance monitoring, and partnership development to ensure cost-effective operations, seamless service delivery, and measurable business impact.

• Serves as system thought leader for virtual care billing optimization and reimbursement strategy, partnering with billing teams, internal and external legal counsel, business practices, and external organizations including the American Telemedicine Association to maximize revenue capture. Develops and maintains comprehensive billing guidelines and reimbursement policies to drive financial performance and regulatory adherence.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Reviews levels of service and significant trends that impact the effectiveness of delivering patient care, critical operational objectives, or other key components within the organization. Ensures that management teams conduct root cause analyses, as appropriate. Proactively guides management to identify prevention/risk avoidance opportunities and implements continuous improvement plans.

• Monitors and ensures organizational compliance with federal, state, and local safety and environmental regulations and standards as well as accreditation requirements. Ensures direct report management monitors and/or revises the departments' safety plan and/or any specific accreditation/regulatory required safety guidelines.

• Proactively approaches the optimization of safe outcomes and information systems by monitoring, improving, and enhancing operations, identifying solutions via collaboration. Oversees the implementation of process improvements, utilizing tools such as lean and change management principles. Role models situational awareness, using teachable moments to improve safety.

• Establishes and monitors Service Level Agreements and performance metrics that clearly define virtual care deliverables, standards, and value propositions for internal stakeholders and hospital partners.

• Partners with legal, compliance, credentialing, and operational teams to ensure virtual care programs meet all regulatory standards and accreditation requirements. Provides oversight for quality monitoring, risk assessment, and continuous improvement initiatives that enhance virtual care delivery and support organizational growth objectives

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Ensures departments' annual operational and capital budgets align with organization's strategic plan and are consistent with CEO, System CFO and Corporate guidelines. Manages operating and capital budgets for virtual care, aligning spending with system strategy and using benchmarks to track performance and financial sustainability. Develops and applies financial models and ROI metrics that clearly demonstrate the value of virtual care initiatives to executives and stakeholders. Uses benchmark data to support performance, costs and return on investment.

• Drives the maximization of efficiency and productivity. Leverages relationships with vendors and partners to obtain contracts that support cost-efficient operations and maintenance.

• Allocates financial, information, and human capital for improvement activities, ensuring efficient delivery of cost-effective and efficient services to patients, physicians, and hospital departments. Educates patient care team leaders on financial implications of patient care decisions.

• Develops and recommends annual operating and capital expenditures budget and ensures implementation of budgets for assigned areas. Participates in financial and operational reviews for key business units and/or programs and services.

• Partners with finance, billing, and compliance teams to align virtual care initiatives with financial objectives, optimizing use of reimbursement pathways and payer policies to strengthen revenue capture and long-term enterprise value.

• Identifies and evaluates new revenue opportunities through service expansion, strategic partnerships, and innovative care delivery models. Advances strategies to establish Virtual Care as a financially sustainable service line that contributes measurable value to Houston Methodist.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Develops long-range goals and strategic plans. Deploys data and research to drive cross-business organization prioritization. Collaborates with executives, clinical leaders, and operational stakeholders across the enterprise to identify strategic opportunities and develop shared objectives for new virtual care programs. Creates integrated platforms that serve providers and patients across the system and region to enhance community-based health services.

• Maintains acute awareness of market and industry trends. Implements innovative solutions for practice or workflow changes to improve system operations. Represents Houston Methodist Virtual Care at industry conferences and forums to showcase organizational leadership in digital health innovation. Champions innovation activities focused on workforce optimization and centralization and integrates innovation into enterprise strategic planning processes.

• Drives change initiatives, maintaining and sustaining effectiveness when experiencing major changes in work responsibilities or environment that support through prolonged timelines for system-level changes; adjusts effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures. Leads development and implementation of strategic virtual care projects and processes, setting clear goals and priorities for management teams while ensuring timely execution of objectives. Co-leads the development and ongoing refresh of Houston Methodist's virtual health strategy, including virtualization priorities, technology and partner selection, service delivery models, and innovation integration.

• Initiates and executes succession plans. Conducts conversations with direct report management on the My Development Plan.

• Collaborates with executives, clinical leaders, and operational stakeholders across the enterprise to identify strategic opportunities and develop shared objectives for new virtual care programs. Creates integrated platforms that serve providers and patients across the system and region to enhance community-based health services.

• Builds strategic relationships with system leaders and community stakeholders, translating value propositions and demonstrating measurable results and value to drive adoption. Sources and evaluates new business opportunities in virtual care, working with finance and legal teams on due diligence and deal structure. Drives negotiations and closes contracts with external partners.

• Directs business development initiatives and partnership efforts with the Chief Innovation Officer, Chief Digital Health Officer, and strategic growth teams. Explores opportunities to scale Virtual Care as a national business line, positioning Houston Methodist as a leader in digital health market expansion.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• Master's degree in healthcare administration, business administration, or related field

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Ten years of progressive healthcare leadership experience, eight years in a people management role

• Experience in healthcare operations, information systems, or managing complex clinical and business portfolios

• Proven success in digital health transformation, virtual care program development, enterprise strategy, workforce transformation, business development, and partnership management with operational accountability

• Executive or senior leadership experience with a record of leading clinical and operational change across disciplines, departments, and service lines preferred

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• N/A

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially about activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Strategic vision with the ability to execute

• Demonstrated leadership presence and maturity

• Impeccable judgment and ability to make sound decisions in a fast-paced, dynamic setting

• Executive-level presentation skills and ability to interface successfully with high-level clients

• Demonstrates the ability to interact with others in a way that gives them confidence in one's intentions and those of the organization

• Ability to use appropriate interpersonal styles and techniques to gain acceptance of ideas or plans; modifying one's own behavior to accommodate tasks, situations and individuals involved

• Demonstrates leadership qualities and critical thinking through self-direction initiative and effective interpersonal skills and oral/written communication skills

• Ability to identify and understand issues, problems, and opportunities, comparing data from different sources to draw conclusions; using effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions; takes action that is consistent with available facts, constraints, and probable consequences

• Extensive knowledge of regulatory and accreditation agency requirements that impact department; stays abreast of industry changes

• Demonstrates flexibility, adaptability, and comfort living in ambiguity; able to provide strong leadership during times of change

• Capable of leading teams/facilitating groups, building consensus and garnering highest confidence in professionalism and work product by senior leadership

• Ability to work under pressure and balance many competing priorities; highly responsive and solution/action oriented

• Maintains a positive and supportive attitude and demeanor

• Professional handling of exposure to confidential/sensitive information

• Possesses the vision and the sensitivity to sustain a cultural transformation process consistent with the mission and values of Houston Methodist

• Demonstrated ability to lead others to common organizational goals and objectives and able to mentor and develop others in the organizations to foster positive employee engagement

• Ability to inspire and motivate others, while promoting the mission and vision of the organization and related capacities and abilities

• Ability to hold people accountable to achieve objectives and have crucial conversations when appropriate with key stakeholders

• Ability to develop and sustain effective working relationships with board, senior management, physicians, all levels of employees, third party CBA agents (if appropriate), government and regulatory compliance agencies and other partners and affiliates of Houston Methodist

• Excellent understanding and application of employee relations principles with the utmost of integrity and ethics

• Deep understanding of virtual health best practices, emerging healthcare technologies, and market opportunities

• Strategic vision with the ability to guide execution of enterprise virtual care initiatives across a complex health system, balancing innovation with operational discipline

• Experience in business development, strategic partnerships, and vendor contract management, including negotiation, performance monitoring, relationship management, and sustainable growth

• Financial leadership in ROI development, P&L management, and value creation, with expertise applying these disciplines to support health system growth and virtual care initiatives

• Experience leading workforce transformation and physician alignment strategies that enable system-wide centralization and ensure reliable care delivery across the enterprise

• Executive leadership presence with ability to influence C-suite executives, lead cross-functional teams, and build consensus across stakeholders

• Entrepreneurial, analytical, and adaptable, with a record of delivering both short-term wins and long-term strategic initiative

• Ability to lead organizational change, drive technology adoption, and balance competing priorities in dynamic digital health environments

• High degree of integrity and ability to work independently as well as collaboratively

• Exceptional people leadership skills, with a track record of developing talent, motivating high-performing teams, and fostering a culture of accountability, inclusion, and trust while leading and expanding business operations

• Ability to execute complex strategies through disciplined planning, performance measurement, and delivery of results across large health systems

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs No
• Business professional Yes
• Other (department approved) No

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* Yes

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area Yes

Houston Methodist (HM) is one of the nation’s leading health systems and academic medical centers.  HM consists of eight hospitals: Houston Methodist Hospital, its flagship academic hospital in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, and seven community hospitals throughout the greater Houston metropolitan area.  HM also includes an academic institute, a comprehensive residency program, a global business division, numerous physician practices and several free-standing emergency rooms and outpatient facilities.  Overall, HM employs over 25,000 employees.   Houston Methodist is supported by a wide variety of business functions that operate at the system level to help enable clinical departments to provide the best patient care and service in a spiritual environment.

 

In 2019 Houston Methodist and its physicians treat more than 6,333 international patients from more than 76 countries. Houston Methodist Global Health Care Services’ consulting and education divisions also provide advisory services and training and development to health care organizations around the world.