Full Time Position
The Patient Safety Officer leads patient safety initiatives across a variety of settings. This role ensures the development, implementation and evaluation of systems and processes that promote a culture of safety, reduce risk and reduce serious safety events. The Patient Safety Officer collaborates with clinical and administrative leaders, frontline staff, and external regulatory bodies and utilizes evidence-based practices to ensure compliance with national safety standards and to drive continuous improvement in patient care.
Responsibilities:- Develops, implements, and oversees the patient safety program in alignment with institutional goals and external requirements (AHCA, Leapfrog, CMS, TJC and others) (20%)
- Serves as the primary liaison regarding patient safety for external agencies such as Joint Commission, CMS, ACGME, Leapfrog, AHCA and others (5%)
- Oversees the root cause analysis process, failure mode and effects analysis, and other investigative processes for serious safety events and near misses. Insures these investigations are complete and timely (20%)
- Promotes a culture of safety through training, education and awareness campaigns across the organization (20%)
- Develops dashboards and reports for leadership and clinical departments and analyzes patient safety related data and trends to identify opportunities for improvement (10%)
- Collaborates with Quality, Risk Management, Infection Prevention, Accreditation and clinical operations to align safety initiatives (15%)
- Facilitates the multidisciplinary Patient Safety Committee and associated workgroups (5%) Participates in policy development and policy review related to patient safety (5%)
-Participates in hospital-wide and department specific education and training as directed
-Actively participates in staff and committee meetings as requested
-All other duties as assigned by department leadership within job scope
Qualifications:Required Education: Master's degree. Specific course work: In lieu of a Master's degree will consider 10 years of experience in patient safety, risk management, quality management or 5 years of experience in patient safety, risk management, quality management if certified in patient safety, risk management or quality management.
Preferred Education: Healthcare Administration (MHA), Public Health (MPH) Nursing (MSN) or related discipline
Required Licensure/Certifications:
-Valid Drivers license with clean record, or violations not exceeding maximum points as provided in hospital policy
-Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) within 6 months years of hire or transfer
Preferred Licensure/Certifications:
-Lean Six Sigma Certification
-Certification in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ)
-Project Management (PMP) Certification
Required Experience: 3-5 years healthcare environment with experience in patient safety, quality improvement or risk management role
Preferred Experience: Risk management or patient safety experience in a hospital or healthcare system. Preferably in a large complex setting. Experience leading root cause analysis and safety event investigation. Familiarity with regulatory and accreditation standards (TJC, CMS, OSHA)
Necessary Skills:
1. Change management skills - ability to analyze the current state, develop a plan for change and communicate both the case and plan for change; ability to elicit support from key stakeholders to achieve objectives; ability to evaluate the plans effectiveness and develop alternative solutions; ability to apply concepts and principles of change management.
2. Leadership skills - ability to lead and motivate multidisciplinary, cross-functional teams; ability to structure, format, and lead small and large group working sessions to achieve objectives; ability to directly and indirectly mentor, coach, and train staff; ability to initiate and drive projects to completion with minimal guidance;
3. Communication skills - excels in interpersonal communications and interactions; ensures that communication lines are kept open; effectively communicates goals and interplay of ideas and concepts; Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing, including conveying technical/clinical information to both technical/clinical and non-technical/non-clinical team members; ability to create reports and dashboards for leaders
4. Interpersonal skills - establishes credibility; promotes participative approaches; establishes effective working relationships; ability to function effectively as part of a team.
Supervision: Supervisory responsibility: No