Lead Consultant

INSTITUTE FOR SAFE MEDICATION PRACTICES•Whitemarsh Township, PA

1d•Remote

About The Position

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) is the only 501c (3) nonprofit organization devoted entirely to preventing medication errors. During its more than 25- year history, ISMP has helped make a difference in the lives of millions of patients and the healthcare professionals who care for them. ISMP is known and respected as the gold standard for medication safety information. It also has served as a vital force for progress. ISMP’s advocacy work alone has resulted in numerous necessary changes in clinical practice, public policy, and drug labeling and packaging. Among its many initiatives, ISMP runs the only national voluntary practitioner medication error reporting program, publishes newsletters with real-time error information read and trusted throughout the global healthcare community, and offers a wide range of unique educational programs, tools, and guidelines. In 2020, ISMP formally affiliated with ECRI to create one of the largest healthcare quality and safety entities in the world. The affiliation allows both organizations to work more closely together for the benefit of providers, patient advocates, governments, and most importantly, patients. From the affiliation, a new Patient Safety Organization took form: ECRI and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices PSO. The launch of the new PSO created a single source for safety that harnesses the unprecedented expertise of each organization. Together, ISMP and ECRI bring up-to-date information and real-time guidance to assure healthcare leaders across the continuum of care that they are making the best decisions to keep patients safe. As an independent watchdog organization, ISMP receives no advertising revenue and depends entirely on charitable donations, educational grants, newsletter subscriptions, and volunteer efforts to pursue its life-saving work.

Requirements

At least 5 years of experience in a clinical practice setting
Knowledge of medication safety, error-prevention principles, various risk management methodologies (e.g. root cause analysis [RCA], failure modes and effects analysis [FMEA]) and process improvement tools (e.g. lean/six sigma)
At least 3 years of experience in implementing safety practices, process improvement utilizing healthcare risk management methodologies (e.g., RCA, FMEA, six sigma/lean) and managing projects in cross-functional teams
Experience writing newsletter articles, proposals and articles in peer-reviewed literature
MSN, DNP, PharmD, or equivalent
Proficient with Microsoft office 365
Current professional licensure

Nice To Haves

Specialty certification (patient safety, medication safety, quality/risk) preferred

Responsibilities

Subject Matter Expert (SME) in medication safety SME on medication use processes and safe medication practices.
Participate in membership activities, consulting activities, client calls, collaboratives, organizational programs, educational programs, data analysis, advocacy efforts, and other special ISMP and ECRI projects.
Author, contribute or edit content for ISMP newsletter publications, research and grant proposals, medication safety projects, safety tools, and resources, including ISMP guidelines, self-assessments, and best practice statements.
Provide advice and guidance to healthcare practitioners, consumers, ISMP Fellows, residents, and students.
Independently manage tasks with accurate completion ensuring high quality results and timely delivery with minimal supervision.
Review and analyze confidential reports of hazardous conditions and medication errors, including close calls, submitted to the ISMP National Medication Errors Reporting Program (ISMP MERP), the ISMP National Vaccine Errors Reporting Program (ISMP VERP), the ISMP Consumer Medication Errors Reporting Program (ISMP CMERP), the California Medication Error Reporting (CAMER) Program and the ECRI and the ISMP Patient Safety Organization.
Interact with reporters, manufacturers, vendors, and regulatory agencies as warranted.
Perform in-depth analysis of multi-faceted medication error and near miss/close call reports considering various factors and data and apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to develop safe practice recommendations.
Selects methods and techniques used in medication event analysis.
Develop ISMP’s responses, recommendations, and action agenda items to prevent or mitigate medication errors in collaboration with ISMP professional staff.
Participate in ISMP collaboratives and summits.
Actively contribute to prospective risk assessments, targeted risk assessments or other consultation engagements.
Identify strategic risk-mitigation initiatives and contributes to compiling and delivering the final report.
Coordinate the development, review, and editing of new or revised safety tools and resources, including ISMP guidelines, self-assessments, and best practice statements, including: gathering pertinent background research and information drafting and/or editing content based on recommended medication safety practices
Seeks out colleagues in other departments and external experts for collaboration, coordination, and support.
Create and deliver public speaking engagements on various medication safety-related topics.
Provide advice and guidance to healthcare practitioners and consumers
Provide guidance and/or training in field of expertise to colleagues
Mentor new employees, ISMP Fellows, students and residents