Quality Assurance - Medical Lead

Arizona Department of Administration • Phoenix, AZ

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Quality Assurance - Medical Lead provides clinical leadership to improve healthcare quality across Arizona’s state prisons and contracted facilities. Reporting to the Quality Assurance Director, this role supports providers, addresses complex quality and compliance issues, and promotes adherence to applicable clinical, legal, regulatory, and accreditation standards. The position reviews medical records and contractor performance, analyzes healthcare data and operations, coordinates audits, and advances improvements in care delivery, documentation, data integrity, and clinical workflows. It also partners with agency teams, providers, and external consultants to support quality initiatives and effective use of clinical information systems.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in healthcare or public health (selective preference).
• A minimum of five years of experience in a correctional healthcare setting is preferred.
• Certified Correctional Healthcare Professional (CCHP) is a selective preference.
• Knowledge of healthcare delivery principles recommended or mandated by the U.S. Constitution, Arizona Revised Statutes, NCCHC, American Correctional Association, American Nurses Association, and the Arizona Department of Corrections.
• Knowledge of professional nursing principles and nursing services related to the pharmacological process.
• Knowledge of infection control in a high-risk environment, quality assurance and performance improvement, and inpatient capacity management.
• Skills in evaluating healthcare quality, identifying evidence-based practices, investigation, effective communication and collaboration, and using Microsoft programs including Excel.
• Skills in planning and executing clinical care, analyzing and synthesizing information, and organizing data to provide appropriate clinical suggestions.
• Ability to evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of healthcare services; compose correspondence and reports effectively; multitask; conduct research and respond to issues or concerns; build and maintain effective working relationships; compile information and reports; and make decisions and meet deadlines.
• Must take a tuberculosis (TB) test during New Employee Orientation and annually thereafter.
• Employment is contingent on successfully passing a background investigation.
• If driving or use of a vehicle is an essential job function, applicable driver’s license requirements apply.
• Newly hired State employees must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in healthcare or public health.
• At least five years of experience in a correctional healthcare setting.
• Certified Correctional Healthcare Professional (CCHP).

Responsibilities

• Guide contracted healthcare providers in delivering timely, professional, and appropriate care while promoting continuous improvement and adherence to correctional healthcare best practices.
• Serve as a resource for peers by answering questions, troubleshooting concerns, and finding resolutions.
• Coordinate schedules, delegate work to staff, and monitor daily performance.
• Coordinate work discussions among staff and stakeholders to improve and refine processes.
• Train and support team members, clarify work expectations and procedures, lead project initiatives, develop implementation strategies, and help evaluate staff performance.
• Manage databases supporting Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), Quality Indicators, and Corrective Action Plans.
• Research and analyze healthcare data, provide statistical information to stakeholders, and ensure the integrity and accuracy of healthcare records and reports.
• Guide external vendors and consultants on quality assurance goals.
• Conduct root cause analyses and collaborate with the CHP and ADCRR Operations to implement and sustain process improvements.
• Lead process improvement initiatives by identifying gaps, reconciling coding reviews and medical records, and using technology and clinical informatics to enhance patient care.
• Compile, analyze, and present healthcare data to stakeholders.
• Implement and manage clinical informatics applications, maintain software systems, and develop standardized workflows.
• Observe vendor and operational processes related to inmate healthcare at prison complexes.
• Review medical charts to assess the quality and appropriateness of clinical care.
• Develop monitoring guides and standard work procedures, and help staff use data to communicate meaningful information.
• Evaluate contracts and service delivery, and conduct quality assurance audits to ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and accreditation standards.
• Work with the CHP and ADCRR Operations to analyze healthcare processes, identify improvement opportunities, and monitor implementation.
• Help lead a sustainable monitoring program and oversee the CHP’s implementation of CQI studies in alignment with ADCRR Health Services Technical Manuals (HSTMs), National Commission on Correctional Healthcare (NCCHC) Standards, and federal court injunctions.
• Update and track CQI studies across all nine state prison complexes.
• Conduct regular audits and assessments to ensure compliance with the Permanent Court Ordered Injunction, federal and state laws, and NCCHC Standards.
• Perform other duties related to the position as assigned.

Benefits

• Vacation and sick days with 10 paid holidays per year.
• Paid parental leave of up to 12 weeks per year for a newborn or newly placed foster or adopted child (pilot program).
• Medical, dental, life, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance options.
• Retirement program through the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS); enrollment eligibility becomes effective after 27 weeks of employment.
• Optional deferred compensation plans and credit union membership.
• Wellness program.
• Incentivized commuter club and public transportation subsidy program.

What This Job Offers

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