Director Patient Safety

HCA Healthcare•Pasadena, TX

About The Position

The Patient Safety Director leads and collaborates in implementing the hospital-based patient safety program to eliminate preventable patient harm and establish and sustain a culture of safety. The role oversees proactive system evaluation and redesign, event reporting and investigation, serious event and failure mode analyses, patient safety rounds, safety education, and the use of data to measure improvement. The Director partners with hospital leadership, the Patient Safety Organization, Quality, patients and families, legal counsel, and other departments to strengthen safe care, manage risk and claims, and ensure regulatory compliance.

Requirements

Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) certification must be obtained within 12 months of hire.
Bachelor's degree in a healthcare-related field required.
Three to five years of recent healthcare experience in patient safety, risk, and/or quality, in a clinical setting such as a hospital or ambulatory surgery center.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Initiate and oversee proactive evaluation and redesign of systems and care processes to prevent future harm.
Promote appropriate behaviors, robust systems, accountability measures, reliable design, evidence-based care, and reduced variation in care delivery.
Partner with the Patient Safety Organization to explore care variations and implement best practices, alerts, and updates.
Use alerts and best practices to perform gap assessments and implement actions to address identified gaps.
Report, investigate, and analyze patient safety incidents, medical errors, and potential facility risks.
Facilitate serious event analyses and failure mode and effects analyses, develop sustainable improvement strategies, and evaluate process changes.
Conduct Patient Safety Rounds and empower staff to identify and help resolve safety concerns.
Coordinate disclosure of serious events to patients and families in accordance with policy and regulations.
Ensure timely reporting of Patient Safety Work Product to the Patient Safety Organization and participate in its learning collaboratives.
Champion the Culture of Safety Survey and facilitate analysis and data-driven action planning.
Encourage nonpunitive event reporting, provide feedback on reports, and facilitate event reviews that address systems and individual accountability.
Serve as chair or co-chair of the Patient Safety Committee.
Develop or provide input on patient safety and risk management policies and procedures.
Include patient safety topics in new-hire orientation and provide ongoing safety education to leaders, medical staff, and staff.
Work with facility leaders and managers on timely, thorough event management and on behavioral norms that promote a culture of safety.
Support understanding of and compliance with National Patient Safety Goals and promote an open, fair environment that supports learning and safe systems.
Partner with Quality to complete the NQF Safe Practices section of the Leapfrog Hospital Survey.
Participate in clinical and non-clinical committees, providing patient safety data, analysis, guidance, and risk management input.
Engage patients and families in the safety program and seek input from those involved in harm or close-call events when appropriate.
Oversee complaint and grievance investigations and resolution, and ensure compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation.
Use event information to benchmark and track progress toward zero avoidable harm; analyze trends and monitor improvement strategies.
Present actionable patient safety reports to committees, leadership, the Medical Executive Committee, and Board of Trustees, including the patient's story of harm.
Implement systems to comply with the Safe Medical Device Act and track or report device and product recalls or safety issues in collaboration with relevant departments.
Work with defense legal counsel to coordinate investigations and claims, maintain and provide requested records and documents, and preserve Patient Safety Work Product privilege.
Notify and interact with HCI on actual and potential claims.
Work with Security on procedures to reduce the frequency or severity of property loss.
Review contracts.
Manage non-HCI cases, including subpoenas, visitor events, and property loss or theft.
Oversee investigation and resolution of concerns related to patient belongings.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical coverage, including prescription drug and behavioral health coverage, free telemedicine, and free AirMed medical transportation.
Dental and vision benefit options.
Life and disability coverage.
Flexible spending accounts and supplemental health protection plans.
Auto and home insurance, identity theft protection, legal counseling, long-term care coverage, moving assistance, and pet insurance.
Free counseling services and emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing resources.
401(k) plan with a 100% match on 3% to 9% of pay, based on years of service.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan with 10% off HCA Healthcare stock.
Fertility and family-building benefits and adoption assistance.
Referral services for child, elder, and pet care, home and auto repair, and event planning.
Consumer discounts.
Retirement readiness and rollover assistance services and preferred banking partnerships.
Education assistance, including tuition, student loan, certification support, and dependent scholarships.
Colleague recognition program.
Time Away From Work Program, including paid time off, paid family leave, disability coverage, and leaves of absence.
Employee Health Assistance Fund offering free employee-only coverage to eligible full-time and part-time colleagues based on income.