Safety/Quality Specialist - Pending Certification 7 WEST PICU

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia•Philadelphia, PA

About The Position

Seeking Breakthrough Makers Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) offers countless ways to change lives. Our diverse community of more than 20,000 Breakthrough Makers will inspire you to pursue passions, develop expertise, and drive innovation. At CHOP, your experience is valued; your voice is heard; and your contributions make a difference for patients and families. Join us as we build on our promise to advance pediatric care—and your career. A Brief Overview This SQS position is in PICU, it is 36 hours a week - 100% of time is SQS. Local/department program leader for patient safety and quality improvement initiatives that improve patient outcomes within a defined patient care area (microsystem). Utilizes CHOP improvement framework, sustains and spreads improvements. Effectively partners with nursing and medical leadership to determine improvement priorities that are in alignment with organizational goals. Develops strong working teams to make improvements. Inspires members of the clinical area to fully engage in improvements that achieve high outcomes and works to ensure there are zero events of preventable harm. Develops and advances own expertise related to quality improvement, change management, high reliability, influence, and project management. Fully masters the organizational leadership competencies.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree Healthcare field of study - Required
At least two (2) years Clinical knowledge, skills and experience in area/portfolio of interest in a complex health care setting - Required
At least two (2) years Clinical work experience in a complex health care setting - Required
Proficient with Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint (Required proficiency)
Ability to work independently and take initiative when necessary (Required proficiency)
Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills are required. (Required proficiency)
Teaching/presentation skills are required. (Required proficiency)
Exemplifies foundational CHOP ICARE values and Safety Behaviors for Error Prevention (Required proficiency)
Ability to function in project manager role (Required proficiency)
In partnership with management holds others accountable as needed (Required proficiency)
Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) - National Associate for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) - within 30 months - Required or
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (LSSGB) - Industry standard (IASSC, ASQ, CSSC) or accredited college/university - within 30 months - Required and
Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT) - National Board for Respiratory Care - upon hire - Required or
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) - Pennsylvania Department of Health - upon hire - Required or
Licensed Pharmacist (Pennsylvania) - Pennsylvania State Licensing Board - upon hire - Required or
Registered Nurse (Pennsylvania) - Pennsylvania State Licensing Board - upon hire - Required or
Registered Dietitian (RD) - Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) - upon hire - Required or
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Acute Care (CPNP-AC) - Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PCNB) - upon hire - Required or
Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) - National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) - upon hire - Required or
Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) (Pennsylvania) - American Academy of Nurse Practitioner Certification Board (AANPCB) - upon hire - Required and
Basic Life Support (BLS) - issued through on organization that requires a hands-on instructor lead psychomotor skills verification (ex. American Heart Association or Red Cross). - within 6 months - Required

Nice To Haves

At least two (2) years Pediatric experience - Preferred
At least one (1) year Knowledge of patient safety and quality improvement concepts and methods, including data collection and analysis - Preferred
Knowledge of patient safety and quality improvement concepts and methods, including data collection and analysis (Preferred proficiency)

Responsibilities

Develops, implements, evaluates, and sustains an effective microsystem based safety and quality program
Fosters a fair and just culture of patient/employee safety within the microsystem.
Coaches and mentors on safety behaviors for error prevention.
Applies high reliability principles (sensitivity to operations, reluctance to simplify, preoccupation with failure, deference to expertise, and resilience) to safety and quality issues whenever possible.
Integrates improvement initiatives to achieve overall patient outcomes i.e. assures clinical improvement initiatives also promote excellent patient/family experience.
Orients, develops and mentors lead nurses of the working teams that are linked within the safety program.
Partners with nurse manager or clinical supervisor when members of initiative teams are challenged in meeting their responsibilities.
Applies the CHOP Improvement framework to all improvement work.
Assures data-based decision making for all initiatives.
Applies project planning techniques for all initiatives.
Provides effective, timely communication regarding safety and quality initiatives and outcomes, including visual displays of data to inform all microsystem staff of the status of improvement efforts.
Ensures all initiatives have specific project timelines and that the work stays on the expected track.
Actively utilizes project management skills.
Whenever possible, scopes the work to ensure that achievements are possible i.e. break large goals into sub-projects that lead to the systematic achievement of the goal.
Advises and/or seeks resources to determine effective measures and metrics for improvement initiatives; assures appropriate data support is in place.
Provides coaching and consultation to staff from all disciplines in making behavioral changes.
Partners with shared governance and nursing/physician leadership to influence practice changes.
Develops plan to assure practice change has occurred and is sustained.
Role models self confidence in making necessary changes.
Reevaluates improvement plans and make adaptations when anticipated outcomes are not achieved.
Promotes the notion of adapt, adopt, and/or abandon so that initiatives do not become ‘stuck at mediocre results.
Fluent and facile in improvement methodology and tools; serves as a resource to improvement teams.
Assures sustainment plan is considered and incorporated in the beginning of each project.
Applies force field analysis prior to the initiation of projects to assure it is achievable and barriers are addressed prior to initiation.
Conducts ACAs when needed.
Partners with multidisciplinary team as needed during the investigation process.
Enters, retrieves, and trends data regarding patient care events.
Assures timely, accurate completion of bedside reviews for events of Healthcare Acquired Conditions; follows standard format.
Focuses on systems issues during the investigation process.
Develops agendas for microsystem forums i.e. QI meetings and/or Unit Leadership partner meetings.
Effectively facilitates meetings.
Documents meeting notes.
Identifies microsystem safety/quality trends.
Identifies the need for training when applicable.
Compiles annual report of microsystem initiatives and achievements.