Patient Safety Specialist

The University of Chicago Medicine•Chicago, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Join one of the nation’s most comprehensive academic medical centers, UChicago Medicine, in a detail-driven and influential role as a Patient Safety Specialist. Our employees deliver world-class care in an environment where opinions are respected, decision-making is rewarded, and teamwork is the order of the day. This hybrid position will primarily be based on-site with occasional travel to off-site locations in the network. The primary function of this position will be to work with clinicians and administrators within the Medical Center to implement clinical system and process improvements that will improve patient safety, enhance clinical performance, reduce clinical errors and other factors that contribute to patient harm or poor treatment outcomes, as well as facilitate initiatives to support a culture of safety.

Requirements

Hospital experience of at least 5 years in a clinical or administrative role with specific experience in dealing with patient safety, risk management and/or quality
Working knowledge of Joint Commission standards
Excellent oral, and interpersonal written communication skills, poise in teaching and consulting
Strong organizing and data management skills, including word processing, spreadsheets, data base and graphics to design and implement monitoring and evaluation tools
Professional Registered Nurse License preferred
B.S. in a health-related field, preferably nursing. Masters of Nursing, Administration or Business preferred
Experienced in process improvement methodologies, e.g., FMECA, SWOT Analysis or Lean methodology preferred

Responsibilities

Implement the Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals and other patient safety initiatives including monitoring compliance and developing action plans to sustain compliance
Conduct patient or clinical systems tracers assessing compliance with Joint Commission and CMS standards
Coordinate the annual culture of safety survey. Analyze, benchmark, prioritize survey data and identify opportunities and initiatives to promote increasing positive responses annually
Collaborate with Risk Managers in the investigation and creation of the patient safety improvement plans developed from internal adverse patient care events
Facilitate meetings, initiate task forces or work groups to directly remediate and resolve quality of care, patient safety or clinical systems issues
Conduct a pro-active risk and safety assessment in collaboration with the Risk Managers for sections and departments utilizing FMECA, SWOT Analysis, Lean or other process improvement methodologies
Perform case reviews and facilitate task force meetings to reduce incidences of hospital acquired or healthcare associated harm events
Round in patient care areas weekly to promote event reporting and to facilitate communication of “lessons learned” from adverse patient care event investigations and analysis
Conduct Patient Safety Education Session as part of the safety educational curriculum for all staff
Performs other duties assigned