Quality & Patient Safety Specialist

Emory Healthcare • Atlanta, GA

6d

About The Position

The Quality and Patient Safety Specialist is responsible for developing, implementing, and monitoring programs that promote high standards of patient care, safety, and satisfaction. This role partners with clinical and non-clinical teams to support quality improvement initiatives, enhance patient safety practices, and ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation requirements.
The specialist plays a key role in analyzing quality and safety data, leading performance improvement initiatives, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement across the organization.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or a related field required.
• Candidates with extensive relevant experience (greater than five years) may be considered in lieu of a master’s degree; in these cases, a bachelor’s degree will be required.
• Minimum of three (3) to five (5) years of experience in a healthcare environment with exposure to quality improvement and patient safety initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of healthcare regulatory and accreditation requirements.
• Advanced analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and identify actionable insights.
• Proficiency with data analysis and visualization tools such as Microsoft Excel, Tableau, or similar platforms.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills with demonstrated ability to educate staff and collaborate across interdisciplinary teams.
• Ability to lead quality initiatives and support organizational change in complex healthcare environments.

Nice To Haves

• Clinical licensure or experience (e.g., Registered Nurse, Physical Therapist, or similar clinical discipline) preferred.
• Lean Six Sigma or similar quality improvement certification preferred.
• Certification in healthcare quality and safety such as:
• Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)
• Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS)

Responsibilities

• Project Management
• Develop and execute project plans supporting multidisciplinary quality and patient safety initiatives.
• Manage project timelines, meeting agendas, documentation, and presentation materials.
• Track project progress and provide updates to leadership and stakeholders.
• Patient Safety Initiatives
• Coordinate and facilitate patient safety programs including risk assessments, incident reporting, and root cause analyses (RCA).
• Develop strategies to reduce medical errors and improve patient safety outcomes.
• Promote awareness of patient safety initiatives and encourage reporting of near-miss events.
• Quality Improvement
• Design, implement, and evaluate quality improvement initiatives using evidence-based methodologies such as Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA), Lean, and Six Sigma.
• Monitor clinical outcomes and performance indicators to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Recommend and implement process improvements to enhance care delivery and operational effectiveness.
• Regulatory Compliance
• Ensure compliance with standards established by accrediting and regulatory organizations such as the Joint Commission and CMS.
• Participate in regulatory readiness activities, including survey preparation and follow-up.
• Interpret regulatory requirements and advise leadership and staff on compliance expectations.
• Data Collection and Analysis
• Collect, analyze, and report quality metrics and patient safety data to key stakeholders.
• Utilize data visualization and analytics tools to present findings and support decision-making.
• Identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities using analytical methodologies such as root cause analysis.
• Staff Education and Training
• Provide education and training on quality improvement methodologies, patient safety practices, and regulatory compliance.
• Support staff development by facilitating training sessions on incident reporting and risk mitigation strategies.
• Promote awareness of organizational quality and safety initiatives.
• Collaboration and Leadership
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to support organizational quality and safety goals.
• Serve as a resource to leadership and staff on patient safety, regulatory compliance, and quality improvement practices.
• Incident Management
• Partner with clinical teams to investigate patient safety events and near-misses.
• Document findings, recommend corrective actions, and support implementation of preventive measures.
• Assist with managing the adverse event reporting process.
• Risk Management and Safety Protocol Development
• Support the development and implementation of policies and procedures designed to reduce medical errors and adverse events.
• Collaborate with operational and clinical leaders to identify and mitigate patient safety risks.
• Performance Improvement
• Lead or participate in performance improvement initiatives focused on patient outcomes, safety, and satisfaction.
• Develop strategies to improve quality metrics and patient experience outcomes.
• Regulatory and Accreditation Readiness
• Ensure ongoing readiness for external audits, inspections, and accreditation surveys.
• Stay informed on updates to healthcare regulations, accreditation standards, and industry best practices.

What This Job Offers

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