Sentinel Event Team Member

Department of Health and Human Services • Augusta, ME

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is within the Sentinel Event program at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). As one of two individuals in the program, the role is responsible for ensuring that healthcare facilities (ambulatory surgical centers, dialysis centers, and hospitals) comply with regulatory requirements for the mandatory reporting of sentinel events. The position involves reviewing and analyzing information, providing technical assistance, assessing root cause analyses, maintaining databases, researching patient safety topics, and conducting on-site reviews. The role also includes making formal presentations, coordinating education sessions, and assisting in the review and revision of sentinel event statutes, rules, and policies. A key aspect of the role is developing and maintaining collegial relationships with reporting facilities while enforcing the Sentinel Event rule and maintaining strict confidentiality.

Requirements

• An eight (8) year combination of education and/or professional experience in healthcare.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working as a Registered Nurse
• Experience working with healthcare providers, either directly or in a consulting role
• Experience reporting Sentinel Events and knowledge of Sentinel Event rule
• Experience in healthcare safety, risk management and/or quality improvement
• Experience reviewing and abstracting information from medical records
• Analytical skills/abilities in order to determine if case submissions meet criteria for full review
• Critical thinking skills including ability to objectively analyze and interpret information
• Experience conducting or reviewing root cause analysis
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work well in a team and independently
• Technical writing experience and basic computer skills

Responsibilities

• Review and analyze information to determine if adverse events comply with the sentinel event criteria
• Provide technical assistance to ensure that facilities understand the Sentinel Event program requirements
• Review medical records to gain information necessary to assess causal factors leading to the adverse event
• Assess root cause analyses submitted by healthcare facilities to ensure that they meet the thorough and credible requirements of statute and rule
• Input data into the Sentinel Event database, maintain case log sheets and close cases once all requirements have been met
• Research topics related to patient safety, and assist in developing material for the quarterly sentinel event newsletter
• Analyze aggregated data for the annual sentinel event report
• Conduct on-site reviews to determine if healthcare facilities are in compliance with sentinel event regulatory requirements
• Make formal presentations related to sentinel events and patient safety topics
• Coordinate education sessions to promote patient safety topics
• Assist Sentinel Event Program Manager in reviewing and revising sentinel event statute, rules, policies
• Develop and maintain collegial relationships with reporting facilities while enforcing the SE rule
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding records, facilities, and reporting of sentinel events

Benefits

• 13 paid holidays
• 12 days of sick leave
• 3+ weeks of vacation leave annually
• Health Insurance Coverage (State pays 85%-100% of employee-only premiums)
• Health Insurance Premium Credit (decreases employee-only premiums by 5%)
• Dental Insurance (State pays 100% of employee-only dental premiums)
• Retirement Plan (State contributes 14.11% of employee's pay towards MainePERS)
• Six weeks of fully paid parental leave
• Additional, unpaid leave may also be available, under the Family and Medical Leave Act

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed