Patient Safety and Risk Specialist, Part Time

Massachusetts Eye And Ear Infirmar • Boston, MA

99d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Patient Safety and Risk Specialist will support the Sr. Manager of Patient Safety and Risk Management at Massachusetts General Hospital and Mass Eye and Ear Institute to oversee and manage hospital-wide patient safety initiatives and risk mitigation. This role will focus on carrying out daily activities while fostering Equity Informed High Reliability Concepts. Other patient safety activities will focus on conducting proactive risk assessments and retrospective collaborative risk reviews. Extensive, daily interaction with other Directors, Managers, hospital leadership, and staff in the Department of Quality and Safety is a key component of this role. The Patient Safety and Risk Specialist must also be able to coordinate projects and improvement activities across multiple academic and operational departments independently and mentor other patient safety and risk staff members. Because this role is in an active change management environment, this specialist will need to demonstrate flexibility and open mindedness as the contours of this position will evolve over time.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field of study required.
• Degree in Nursing, Pharmacy, or similar/related clinical field is highly preferred.
• Experience working in a large and complex health care organization preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years clinical experience preferred.
• Computer and Internet skills and experience required: A working knowledge of MS Office products is essential for success in this position (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access).
• Knowledge of healthcare regulations, accreditation standards, and quality improvement methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy in data analysis and reporting.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion work, and/or with strong interest in developing this expertise preferred.
• Emotional IQ, cultural dexterity, and ability to work across uniqueness to facilitate challenging conversations critical to improve our system.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and oversee quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient care and outcomes.
• Promote and cultivate a culture of safety within the hospital.
• Develop and implement strategies to engage staff in safety initiatives and reporting.
• Monitor and analyze quality metrics, including patient outcomes, readmission rates, and other performance indicators.
• Lead or participate in performance improvement projects related to patient safety and quality of care.
• Ensure compliance with healthcare regulations, accreditation standards, and quality reporting requirements.
• Collaborate with patient experience teams to assess and improve the overall patient experience.
• Analyze and report on quality and safety data regularly.
• Provide education and training to staff on quality improvement methodologies, patient safety principles, and regulatory requirements.
• Responsible for the day-to-day coordination of adverse event management.
• Receives and reviews computerized safety event reports and telephone reports of safety events.
• Reviews all safety event reports to ensure timely and appropriate analysis and follow up.
• Identifies sentinel events, coordinates, and conducts sentinel event analyses.
• Works closely with the Patient/Family Relations department on risk and patient safety issues.
• Refers cases as directed to the CRICO for monitoring, investigation or defense and assists with the production of materials for defense.
• Ensures the institution is current with Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals, identifies emerging trends in Patient Safety, and supporting improvement teams related to patient safety initiatives.
• Manages reporting of appropriate adverse events to regulatory agencies, including DPH, DMH, and BRM QPS division, and coordinates/supports unannounced hospital surveys by DPH/DMH/Joint Commission for cause visits, etc.
• Assists with on-site visits by regulatory agencies, including the DPH.
• Identification and development of information related to equipment failures to ensure compliance with the reporting requirements of the Safe Medical Devices Act.
• Reviews and evaluates aggregate safety events and claims data, as well as other hospital information to identify high-risk activities, procedures, and departments.
• Recommends corrective and preventive actions to reduce risk.
• Collaborates with CRICO and hospital-based improvement teams on interventions.
• Continually evaluates hospital safety event reporting system for potential improvement.
• Identifies, recommends, and independently manages innovative patient safety initiatives.
• Assists in review and development of hospital policies.
• Participates in hospital patient safety initiatives and activities.
• Directs improvement activities related to safety and quality vulnerabilities, the Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals and develops innovative methods to monitor improvement.
• Performs as the content expert on improvement methodologies, including proactive risk assessments and imparts knowledge of improvement process to various safety projects.
• Assists hospital leaders in identifying barriers to implementing improvement plans and developing strategies to overcome these barriers.
• Recommends outcome measurement strategies and communication plans to hospital leadership.
• Develops the analytic and measurement strategy for all projects undertaken including development of key metrics, identification of data sources, and collection of baseline data.
• Works to transfer current patient safety concepts and initiatives throughout the organization, such as creation of culture change, increased reporting of adverse events and near misses, and increased transparency.
• Provides staff education to nurses, physicians, and committees regarding patient safety, non-punitive reporting, and error prevention.
• Works with Sr. Manager and clinical leaders to prepare regular presentations to board committees, patient care assessment committee, and other leadership and clinical groups, as needed.
• Participates in patient safety and risk assessment and management meetings.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off.
• Career advancement opportunities.
• Recognition programs designed to celebrate contributions and support professional growth.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree