Patient Safety Specialist, 40hrs. 8a-4:30p

UMass Memorial Health•Clinton, MA

2d•$86,965 - $156,520

About The Position

This position is responsible for supporting patient safety initiatives, performance improvement, clinical complaints/grievances resolution, and medical staff quality peer review processes. Performs a variety of duties related to internal and external regulatory requirements and projects. Manages the processes and data aggregation related to patient safety and risk reduction activities. Scope of projects include research, investigation, analysis, communication and education to stakeholders, and recommendation of best practices. Manages the databases for safety event reporting, complaints/grievances, and peer review.

Requirements

High school or equivalent.
Knowledge of standard work processes, policies, and procedures in an acute hospital setting
Knowledge of state, federal and accrediting body regulations in healthcare
Ability to interact effectively with all levels of authority within the organization, and with patients and other customers
Ability to facilitate and offer technical assistance during implementation of improvement plans and to assess plan effectiveness
Ability to effectively influence change without direct authority
Ability to communicate clearly, accurately, and succinctly verbally and in writing
Ability to work independently and as a team member
Ability to organize, prioritize, and coordinate multiple activities and tasks while maintaining strict deadlines
Excellent analytical skills
Ability to develop and deliver effective presentations to large and small audiences
Proficient with computer programs and applications (Internet Explorer, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Ability to read, write and speak clearly in English
Minimum five (5) years of related healthcare experience

Nice To Haves

Nursing Diploma or degree
Bachelor’s degree in related field
Minimum three (3) years of performance improvement/risk management experience

Responsibilities

Participates in the coordination, implementation, and evaluation of hospital-wide patient safety and risk reduction activities.
Performs concurrent and retrospective medical record review to investigate quality and/or patient safety concerns and to identify risk exposure and performance improvement opportunities identified by specific hospital and/or regulatory indicators.
Collects and analyzes patient safety, complaints/grievances, and peer review data in accordance with regulatory and entity-specific requirements.
Develops and disseminates ongoing and ad hoc reports to ensure that management and medical staff committees receive timely and accurate data to meet their needs in ensuring quality care and patient safety within their departments.
Manages the web-based events reporting system and the complaints/grievances reporting system, to include receipt, acknowledgement, investigation, follow-up, closure, trending, and reporting.
Provides technical assistance to staff and management including, but not limited to, regulatory and accreditation requirements, best practices and benchmarking, safety event and complaints/grievances reporting systems, root cause analysis (RCA), failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), and facilitation of communication/collaboration across staff and teams.
Maintains thorough knowledge of regulatory and accreditation requirements.
Recognizes and responds to changes in regulatory and accreditation requirements that necessitate development or revision of patient safety policies, processes, or systems.
Facilitates and/or participates in a variety of task force and committee meetings.
Develops orientation and educational materials designed to educate staff and management about patient safety processes and risk reduction.
Makes recommendations to improve hospital work processes and procedures, preferably using information technology solutions, when applicable.
Provides facilitation of communication/collaboration between staff, patients/families, and teams.
Complies with established departmental policies, procedures, and objectives.
Attends variety of meetings, conferences, seminars as required or directed.
Demonstrates use of Quality Improvement in daily operations.
Complies with all health and safety regulations and requirements.
Respects diverse views and approaches, demonstrates Standards of Respect, and contributes to creating and maintaining an environment of professionalism, tolerance, civility and acceptance toward all employees, patients and visitors.
Maintains, regular, reliable, and predictable attendance.
Performs other similar and related duties as required or directed.