Quality & Patient Safety Specialist (RN)

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Quality & Patient Safety Specialist plays a role in supporting the development, implementation, management and sustainment of an organization-wide system of quality and safety. Working with the Quality & Patient Safety team and organizational cross-functional teams, the Quality & Patient Safety specialist will support activities to strengthen the culture of safety with the goal of improving the reliability of a complex system. Staff in this role are responsible for supporting a portfolio of system-level quality/process improvement projects from project scope and design, process redesign, implementation testing, performance metric management, and sustainment plans.

Position: Quality & Patient Safety Specialist (RN)      

Department: Quality Improvement

Schedule: Full Time

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Creates and executes all aspects of project plans by leading, facilitating and managing multi-disciplinary quality and patient safety improvement projects with progressive independence; over sees and manages project management and logistics such as project timelines, agenda development, minutes and documents, slide decks and preparation of reports on project status and activities to various audiences; provides supportive management oversight for organization wide advancement of the culture of safety with progressive independence.
• Has a working knowledge of patient safety science, IHI model for improvement, lean or other improvement methodologies and tools. Demonstrates progressively independent project management skills.
• Performs risk surveys and assessments of various departments, services and systems.
• Participates in activities to use the incident reporting database to identify trends and opportunities to improve patient safety.  Participates in follow-up action plans required to minimize patient safety risks.
• Participates in development, implementation and evaluation of programming to promote the BMC Culture of Safety.
• Uses clinical practice experience and knowledge of clinical workflow when leading interdisciplinary teams engaged in complex clinical quality and patient safety improvement work. Ensures national practice standards are incorporated into project work plans.
• Ensure effective data management for assigned quality improvement projects. Has knowledge of measurement framework, and participates in the design, development and implementation of data collection tools. Oversees and conducts data analytics and data integrity.
• Provide support to multidisciplinary teams in the development, implementation and evaluation of quality care initiatives for specific patient populations.
• Mentors Quality & Patient Safety Associates.
• Develops and maintains positive, collaborative, supportive working relationships with the medical staff, nurses, administration, department management and staff.
• Interacts with and supports education for a wide variety of personnel throughout BMC including administration, clinicians, staff, senior management and Department Chairpersons on quality improvement and patient safety science, including culture of safety and principles of high reliability.
• Serves as database administrator, as requested by department leadership.
• Help to ensure compliance with various codes, laws, rules and regulations concerning patient care, including those mandated by state, federal agencies and compliance with the Joint Commission risk management standards.
• Actively participates in in Joint Commission readiness preparation and surveys, and other surveys as guided by the department leadership.
• Maintain awareness of legislative and regulatory activities related to quality and patient safety.
• Helps ensure that quality and patient safety policies and procedures are communicated to employees. 
• Assists clinical chairs and department chiefs to design patient safety and risk management programs specific to their individual areas.
• Periodically reports on quality and patient safety matters and prepare reports for department and committees.
• Utilizes hospital’s cultural beliefs as the basis for decision making and to support the hospital’s mission and goals.
• Other duties as assigned by Quality & Patient Safety Manager or Executive leadership of Quality and Patient Safety.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• BSN required. Masters preferred. Clinical degree required: RN. CPPS or CPHQ preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

• 3-5 years’ experience combined with healthcare administration; minimum 1 year experience in clinical quality/patient safety.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Demonstrated knowledge and use of patient safety science and quality improvement methodologies / tools.
• Must have interpersonal skills necessary to deal effectively with a administrative and  clinical leadership, staff, Clinical Chairpersons, and other healthcare professionals
• Ability to effectively interview individuals and groups from diverse professional backgrounds
• Maintain strictness confidentiality of information
• Ability to collect event information and organize into a coherent narrative
• Highly self-motivated. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and adhere to work deadlines.
• Ability to inspire trust and be seen as someone who provides support and assistance
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent presentation skill including ability to speak before large audiences and prepare and provide Power Point presentations.
• Excellent computer skills including Microsoft Office; ability to learn new computer applications such as adverse event reporting software.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans