Dual CMOs a First; Expect More Hospitals to Follow

One is to develop ambulatory and community health programs to help keep patients out of the hospital; the other is to maintain specialty care when patients do need in-hospital treatment.

Previously, Cora-Bramble was senior VP for the hospital's Diana L. and Stephen A. Goldberg Center for community pediatric health, and acting executive VP ambulatory services. She is now executive VP, CMO for ambulatory and community health services.

Wessel is executive VP CMO for hospital and specialty services, where he will lead the focus on providing the inpatient and subspecialty care.  Before taking on this position, he was senior VP of the Center for Hospital-Based Specialties, which includes a neonatology team and one of the only dedicated pediatric cardiac intensive care units in the country.

The two new CMOS reflect an alignment with the realities of healthcare reform, which involves a shift toward value-based models, population health and patient-centered medical homes, and the need to develop surgical models. Working to improve relationships with other institutions and broaden specialties, especially in areas where there is demand for physicians, is another way the CMOs' role is inspired by the changing landscape of healthcare.

Nancy Foster, VP of Quality and Patient Safety at the American Hospital Association says she was not aware of two CMOs at a hospital, but she's not surprised by it by the Children's National Medical Center decision to have them.

"I have not previously heard of two people holding that title, but it is consistent with the trends we see in hospital and health system leadership," Foster says. "Hospital boards and CEOS are assessing what the organizational needs are and constructing leadership teams that will enable the organization to achieve them.

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