Overview: In support of its strategic commitment to the value of behavioral healthcare as a key element in a fully integrated system of care, Sutter Health is seeking top-notch candidates to compete to become the Executive Director of Sutter Center for Psychiatry (SCP). Located in Sacramento, California, Sutter Center for Psychiatry is the region’s only not-for-profit psychiatric hospital. A free-standing facility, SCP is affiliated with Sutter Health - a dynamic, community-focused $13B+ Integrated Health Network of 24 hospitals with 53,000 employees including 14,000 clinicians, outpatient services, research facilities, home health and hospice care services, and business professionals.

 

Under enlightened executive leadership, Sutter Health is exploring new technologies and embracing creative, community-based healthcare programs to make healthcare more accessible, affordable, efficient and convenient for more than 3 million patients. Inspired by Sutter Health’s not-for-profit mission, vision and values, everything they do as part of their integrated network supports transforming care to help people live healthier lives. Sutter Health strives to be an industry innovator by integrating physical and mental health to care for each person’s total health and wellbeing.

 

In 2019, and again in 2022, Community Health Needs Assessments for Sacramento County sponsored by the Kaiser Foundation and UC Davis Health, respectively, found access to Mental/Behavioral Health and Substance Use services to be the highest need in the County. Housing, jobs and food were collectively the second priority need. The psycho-socio-economic challenges of the COVID pandemic have only heightened the need for action to address the behavioral health of the community. As Executive Director of Sutter Center for Psychiatry you will provide executive leadership and direction for the continuous improvement and development of SCP’s evolving system of Mental Health and Addiction Care services.

 

Sutter Center for Psychiatry is a 73-bed free-standing pavilion that supports the emergency departments of regional Sutter Health hospitals with an exceptionally strong psychiatric emergency department. Clinical services include inpatient services for both high and lower acuity adults, a children’s unit and an adolescent unit, partial hospital and intensive outpatient and a growing array of outpatient programs and services. SCP is also supported by a number of offsite centralized Sutter Health Mental Health & Addiction Care service line resources including the MHAC Emergency Department Throughput team and the Patient Access Center (PAC) for BH Triage & Transfers with the Sutter ED’s/Hospitals and community referral sources. SCP’s unique interventional psychiatry program includes Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), Vagal Nerve Stimulation (VNS), Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), and Ketamine Infusion Therapy (KIT). This evolving system of care is delivered by an exceptional team of physicians that is supported by first-rate nursing, licensed behavioral health clinicians and a diverse array of counselors and technicians. SCP recently completed a triennial Joint Commission survey and passed with flying colors.

 

As Executive Director, you will guide the development and implementation of best practices in the acute care setting including the emergency department and in support of ambulatory hospital and community-based settings. Reporting to Sutter’s Interim Executive Director of Mental Health & Addiction Care/Director of Integrated Care, you will work in partnership with the leadership team of Sutter MH&ACS and collaborate closely with the Senior Director, Mental Health Operations to achieve expected results. Sutter hopes to leverage the talents of a strong, hands-on leader to direct current operations and guide their strategic expansion in both hospital and community-based services. Innovation will be paramount.

 

Our “Ideal” candidates should have:

​

• Demonstrated experience providing operational and strategic leadership in a matrixed organization providing behavioral health services in acute care, ambulatory, and community health settings

• Proven experience developing and implementing significant programs to achieve best-in-class services of the highest quality and to improve the strategic position of an organization

• An outcomes orientation with demonstrated ability to balance clinical and financial performance and to deliver desired results

• Enthusiasm and the ambition to create and lead a first-in-class behavioral health system

• A roll-up-your sleeves, strong hands-on inpatient operations experience in a complex health care institution

• An entrepreneurial spirit that embraces and drives innovation and growth

• Business development expertise – especially for non-inpatient services

• Skill at change management and the ability to take a fresh look at opportunities for program and process improvement

• A commitment to diversity and cultural competence that is reflected in patient services and employee engagement

• Experience in an organized labor environment will be a plus

• Graduate-level education in a behavioral health, nursing, public health or business or healthcare administration or a related field is required. Clinical training and licensure are a plus.

 

This is a unique career opportunity to contribute to Sutter Health’s future growth and development as the premier integrated care network - fully integrating mental health into all levels of care, system-wide. Excellent compensation and benefits package.

 

To apply for this position or request additional information, please contact:

Dr. Stuart I. Meyers, MBA, EdD

President, The Meyers Group

Executive Search Consultants

sim@mr-themeyersgroup.com

(301) 625-5600 X 1

Ronald W. Morton, MPA, CBHE

Vice President, The Meyers Group

Executive Search Consultants

rwm@mr-themeyersgroup.com

(301) 625-5600 X 2