Quality Improvement Coach

HAYMARKET CENTER•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The Quality Improvement Coach partners with clinical and operational leaders to improve patient outcomes, strengthen clinical workflows, enhance documentation quality, and support regulatory excellence across Haymarket Center's continuum of care. Using data analysis, process improvement methodologies, and change management principles, this role helps teams identify performance barriers, implement sustainable solutions, and build a culture of continuous improvement. The coach serves as a trusted advisor, facilitator, and educator, helping staff translate quality and compliance requirements into practical processes while maintaining fidelity to evidence-based treatment models. The role directly influences quality of care by improving documentation quality and regulatory compliance, increasing staff engagement in improvement activities, reducing recurring audit findings and corrective action plans, improving consistency in treatment and discharge planning, and building the organization's capacity to sustain change. Responsibilities include clinical record and treatment-plan reviews; monitoring documentation, medical necessity, continuing-stay criteria, discharge records, and continuity-of-care plans; documenting audit findings; and helping teams turn audit results and performance measures into improvement projects. The coach participates in improvement initiatives using methods such as PDSA cycles, root cause analysis, and process mapping, conducts follow-up reviews, and evaluates corrective actions and quality initiatives. The position connects training to sustained day-to-day practice, develops compliance and clinical excellence resources, coaches supervisors, managers, and frontline staff, facilitates problem-solving, and applies change-management principles. It also supports policy and standards adherence, regulatory and accreditation readiness, risk identification, and leadership reporting. The coach maintains a regular presence in treatment programs, clinics, and service areas, supports administrative functions and special projects, and performs other assigned duties.

Requirements

Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC) or licensed by IDFPR with substance use disorder (SUD) experience.
Familiarity with Illinois Administrative Code Parts 132, 140, 2030, 2060, and 2090, and CARF Behavioral Health Standards; knowledge of Joint Commission standards is also considered.
Familiarity with Health Center Program Standards set forth by HRSA and CCBHC standards established by the State of Illinois and SAMHSA.
Detail-oriented, with proficient written and verbal skills.
Ability to relate well with others.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Nice To Haves

Certified Content Expert (CCE) or Certified Healthcare Compliance (CHC) credential.
At least two years of record-keeping experience with a substance abuse treatment facility, or a combination of skills and qualifications.

Responsibilities

Conduct clinical record reviews for compliance with treatment standards, regulatory and accreditation requirements, and organizational policies.
Review treatment and recovery plans to ensure patient needs, goals, interventions, and progress are appropriately documented.
Monitor clinical documentation to assess progress toward treatment objectives and support quality care delivery.
Validate medical necessity and continuing-stay criteria and help ensure appropriate levels of care are maintained.
Review discharge documentation and continuing-care plans for continuity of care and alignment with treatment goals.
Document audit findings promptly and identify quality improvement opportunities.
Help teams translate audit findings, outcome measures, and compliance indicators into improvement projects and action plans.
Participate in quality improvement projects that strengthen clinical performance, documentation accuracy, and operational processes, using methods such as PDSA cycles, root cause analysis, and process mapping.
Conduct follow-up reviews to measure progress and confirm corrective actions have been implemented; evaluate initiatives and recommend improvements.
Connect training with sustained implementation of lessons learned in day-to-day work.
Develop tools, resources, and educational materials supporting regulatory compliance and clinical excellence.
Coach supervisors, managers, and frontline staff; facilitate problem-solving to identify barriers, test solutions, and learn from results.
Apply change-management principles and help staff understand quality measures, documentation requirements, and operational processes.
Build collaborative relationships that encourage engagement, accountability, and ownership, and promote continuous learning and improvement.
Monitor adherence to policies, procedures, and standards, and support standardization across teams.
Maintain familiarity with applicable federal, state, payer, licensing, and accreditation requirements.
Support readiness for audits, site visits, accreditation reviews, and regulatory surveys.
Identify potential risks and communicate findings to appropriate leadership.
Maintain a regular presence in treatment programs, clinics, and service areas to build relationships and understand workflows.
Prepare reports, summaries, and quality monitoring documentation for leadership review.
Support departmental administrative functions and special projects as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.