Associate Vice President Quality/Patient Safety Officer

VHC Health•Arlington, VA

About The Position

The Associate Vice President, Quality & Patient Safety serves as VHC Health’s designated Patient Safety Officer and is the enterprise leader responsible for shaping and advancing a culture of safety, high reliability, and regulatory excellence across the organization and VHC Medical Group practices. This is a pivotal executive role with system-wide influence, driving the strategy that ensures every patient experience reflects the highest standards of quality and accountability. Reporting to the Chief Medical Officer, the AVP partners closely with nursing, medical staff, operations, service line leaders, and risk management to translate vision into measurable results. This leader sets the direction for enterprise-wide quality and safety initiatives aligned with CMS Conditions of Participation, Joint Commission standards, Leapfrog measures, and national benchmarks, elevating performance in CMS Star Ratings, accreditation readiness, clinical outcomes, and patient experience. Success in this role requires more than regulatory expertise. It demands executive presence, strategic foresight, analytical rigor, and the ability to lead transformational change in a complex healthcare environment. The AVP will serve as both a catalyst and steward of excellence, ensuring VHC Health continues to set the standard for safe, high-quality, patient-centered care. Purpose & Scope: The Associate Vice President (AVP), Quality & Patient Safety serves as the organization’s Patient Safety Officer (PSO) and is responsible for leading, coordinating, and advancing the hospital’s quality, safety, performance improvement, and regulatory readiness strategies within the hospital and associated VHC Medical Group Practices. This executive leader partners closely with clinical, operational, nursing, medical staff leadership, and risk management to ensure delivery of safe, high-quality, patient-centered care aligned with CMS, Joint Commission, Leapfrog, and other regulatory and accreditation standards while supporting the hospital’s strategic objectives related to quality, safety, and patient experience. . The AVP reports to the Chief Medical Officer and works collaboratively with nursing, operations, service line leaders, and the medical staff.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Nursing, or Public Health is required
Five years of healthcare, nursing, or patient care experience is required
Demonstrated leadership ability is required
Data interpretation/presentation experience is required
Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)
Executive presence and exemplary communication skills
Strong analytical capability
Ability to manage conflict in safety investigations
Systems thinking
Change management expertise
High emotional intelligence
Demonstrated success improving CMS Star Ratings and regulatory performance.
Deep knowledge of: CMS Conditions of Participation, Joint Commission standards, Quality measurement methodologies

Nice To Haves

Graduation from an accredited school of nursing is preferred.
Lean/Six Sigma certification preferred
Licensed as a Registered Nurse by the Virginia Department of Health Professions or Compact State Licensure in Nursing is preferred.

Responsibilities

leading, coordinating, and advancing the hospital’s quality, safety, performance improvement, and regulatory readiness strategies
partners closely with clinical, operational, nursing, medical staff leadership, and risk management to ensure delivery of safe, high-quality, patient-centered care aligned with CMS, Joint Commission, Leapfrog, and other regulatory and accreditation standards while supporting the hospital’s strategic objectives related to quality, safety, and patient experience

Benefits

Comprehensive Medical & Dental Plans
VHC Health's Health System PPO
VHC Health's Health System High Deductible Plan
Kaiser Permanente Signature HMO
Condition management programs
Delta Dental PPO
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Life Insurance
Disability
Employee Wellness Benefits
Commuter Benefits
Paid Time-off (PTO)
Sick Time
Holiday Time
Family Leave Program
VHC Health Retirement Program
VHC Health Outpatient Pharmacy
Clinical and Research Pathways eligible
Annual merit review
Merit increases
ATM on campus
Cafeteria discount
Career development and mentorship program
Childbirth education class discount
COVID vaccinations and boosters (free)
Direct deposit
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Employee lactation rooms
Employee recognition program Stars, Shout Out's and Years of Service
Flu shots (free)
Gift shop on campus
Health promotion fitness class and health screening discount
On-site Employee Health Dept.
On-site Parking
Retirement education
Smoke-free, drug-free campus
Smoking cessation program
Student Loan Repayment program
Tuition Reimbursement
Talent Management provides career counseling, leadership development and consultation, and training
Worker’s Compensation
Workforce Enhancement Program
Work/Life Discounts Program