Patient Safety Specialist - Days

ThedaCare • Neenah, WI

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Patient Safety Specialist provides diversified system-wide, hospital, and multi-clinic support for patient safety activities that impact strategic initiatives. This position works collaboratively with hospital leaders, physicians and clinical staff to analyze and improve clinical care practices. The patient safety specialist effectively participates in/or facilitates activities designed to improve process of care and outcomes, reduction of system hazards, preventable patient harm, and ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations, standards & accreditation requirements. They will conduct and facilitate credible systematic investigations on patient safety events. The Patient Safety Specialist position serves the organization as a leader of patient safety improvements by demonstrating expert knowledge and ability to execute change as well as mentoring other staff, physicians and peers in the best practices of patient safety.

Requirements

• A minimum of 3 to 5 years of hospital experience is required with evidence of performance improvement project experience.
• Experience with and/or working knowledge of basic process improvement method: PDSA, Process mapping, and project management is required.
• Knowledge and experience with a wide variety of computer programs including Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook.
• Certified Professional In-Patient Safety (CPPS) required within 18 months of start date.
• Excellent verbal and writing skills
• Advanced interpersonal communication skills for extensive interactions with diverse healthcare professionals including nurses, physicians, administrators, department leaders and team members to implement quality initiatives across the care continuum, and provide effective consultation and collaboration
• Ability to organize and define problems, develop strategies, and carry out action plans
• A strong understanding of clinical practices and patient care pathways is often necessary to effectively evaluate safety issues.
• Capable of exercising sound judgment and making independent decisions
• Ability to adapt to multiple complex organizational environments

Nice To Haves

• Experience in performance improvement activities is preferred.
• Prior leadership experience preferred.
• Clinical Master's Degree is preferred.
• Advanced training in process improvement methodologies including: Lean, Six Sigma and Change Management.
• RN and/or CPPS certification.

Responsibilities

• Conducts system-wide, hospital, or multi-clinic systematic investigations on serious safety events, significant near misses, and critical trends
• Collaborates with department leadership, and other stakeholders in taking immediate action to ensure interim mitigation strategies
• Key participant in Patient Harm escalations and Patient Harm determination events. Will collaborate closely with Risk Prevention, Legal, and clinical partners to establish event timelines, short-term action plans, and long-term action plans
• Analyzes qualitative and quantitative data (from interviews, observations, chart review, etc.) to identity contributing factors to patient safety events and prioritize their impact.
• Thinks critically, reviews relevant literature, synthesizes and presents relevant information to teams to facilitate problem solving
• Collaborates with departments and multidisciplinary teams, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, administrators, and quality specialist personnel to identify, develop and implement strategies to improve clinical care, promote a culture of collaboration & communication in addressing patient safety concerns, and identify areas for improvement in regulatory compliance & accreditation readiness.
• Consistently executes on projects demonstrating sustainable improvements that are timely and effective
• Maintain accurate incident reporting systems and databases
• Acts as a subject matter expert and provides input and guidance on continual advancement of the patient safety program
• Researches and analyzes best practices, regulatory agency requirements, reports, and data. Develops summaries, recommends action plans and educates staff accordingly.
• Serves as resource for all safety related efforts and concerns.
• Ensures the availability of current references of regulatory agency standards.
• Participate in committees or task forces related to regulatory compliance and accreditation
• Assists in the dispersion of the Culture of Safety survey to team members. Act as a key consultant to leaders in interpreting their results and providing guidance on selecting departmental improvements
• Collaborate with quality improvement teams to identify opportunities for enhancing patient safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of care delivery processes.
• Participate in performance improvement projects and initiatives
• Conducts proactive Risk Assessments to identify, evaluate and develop action plans to proactively address risks to the safety of ThedaCare patients
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Lifestyle Engagement e.g. health coaches, relaxation rooms, health focused apps (Wonder, Ripple), mental health support
• Access & Affordability e.g. minimal or zero copays, team member cost sharing premiums, daycare

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level