Patient Safety Coordinator

Located in Largo in the heart of Prince George’s County, our new state-of-the-art regional medical center (UM Capital Region Medical Center) will provide improved access to primary and ambulatory care services, and serves as a tertiary care center for critically ill patients. In addition, our new space will allow us to expand our offerings as a community partner to help improve the health status of Prince George’s County residents

POSITION SUMMARY

The Patient Safety Coordinator supports the organization by promoting a data-driven approach to systematic quality improvement and promoting a culture of safety. Supports the Patient Safety Manager in all activities and functions related to the Patient Safety Plan. This role leads multidisciplinary teams in process improvement activities that support the reduction of clinical errors and other factors that contribute to unintended adverse patient outcomes. The coordinator provides leadership for safety assessments, coordinates the activities for root cause analysis investigations, and educates others within the organization on system based causes of medical error by communicating lessons learned from RCA work and sharing evidence-based literature regarding effective safety and performance improvement strategies.

Principal Duties:
a. Plans, organizes, and directs patient safety activities and improvements related to quality of care and medical error reduction in the related clinical department. Assures the monitoring of action plans in order to sustain safety improvements.

b. Collaborates with all staff, clinical professionals and administrative leadership to foster a culture of safety.

c. Harmonizes improvement efforts with the Unit Based Safety Program utilizing knowledge of quality improvement, innovation and the organization. Participates in patient safety or administrative standard safety rounds. Works with Leaders and Physicians to organize and incorporate safety into standing meetings and huddles

d. Advises department and corporate leadership regarding potential issues related to the delivery of safe care or obstacles to organizational learning and leads the development of solutions. Communicates lessons learned and measures of effective resolution of near miss event reviews to appropriate quality/patient safety committees and/or service line clinical leadership

e. Reviews event reports that identify unsafe or hazardous conditions, including near miss events, which lead to patient safety action plan improvements. Facilitates action plan development and identifies methods of quality monitoring for clinical effectiveness

f. Conducts clinical audits/assessments and chart reviews to identify unsafe or hazardous conditions in the clinical setting which may lead to potential or actual patient harm. 

g. Utilizes data from a variety of sources to identify opportunities to improve the systems in the delivery of care to improve quality and promote patient safety; 

h. Identifies clinical safety trends to help clinical departments improve Safety Dashboard measures; identifies process and outcomes measures; develops means for nursing units to track appropriate clinical and safety measures; develops targets and improvement plans when necessary; develops and provides timely, actionable feedback and reports to clinical, administrative, and support staff on safety 
improvement initiatives; collects, trends, interprets and reports safety data at specified intervals with accuracy and completeness

i. Develops and leads innovative new programs to increase involvement of front-line staff and all care team members in patient safety initiatives; develops organizational means of engaging and developing front line staff in the work of patient safety initiatives and continuous improvement on measures of patient safety and clinical quality; builds strong working relationships with all clinical staff and management to help achieve functional unit level safety initiatives

j. Identifies needs for educational programs around patient safety issues, including teamwork training utilizing knowledge of patient safety risks, clinical outcomes, practices and policies; develops and delivers multidisciplinary educational sessions, or facilitates and coordinates obtaining training sessions. Participates in the education of medical staff, employees, and leadership and Board on safety indicators and practices.

k. Fosters and promotes participation by all clinicians in safety and clinical improvement programs.

l. Participates in safety improvement collaboratives with external organizations when opportunities arise. 

m. Demonstrates in depth knowledge of the National Quality Forum Safe practices, NPSG’s, Institute of Healthcare Improvement recommendations, AHRQ, all patient safety standards of the Joint Commission and stays abreast of emerging patient safety trends individually and as directed. Maintains current knowledge of RCA, FMEA, and PI strategies (principles, methodologies, techniques and data analysis). 

n. Coordinates assigned meetings, assisting with agenda and providing safety metrics.

o. Does related work as assigned.

Customer Service: 
1. Greets customers in courteous, friendly, respectful and professional manner at all times, including maintaining eye contact when appropriate.
2. Follows communication protocols to both internal and external customers, including introducing him/herself with job title and experience, asking open ended questions, such as “How may I be of help to you?” using 
the customer’s name as soon as it is learned.
3. Responds promptly and appropriately to customer questions/concerns/complaints and attempts immediate resolution.
4. Keeps customer’s information confidential, including public places such as elevators or the cafeteria.
5. Provides assistance and offers help immediately, including finding someone else to meet the request, if unable to do so him/herself. Introduce other staff to customers when a hand-off occurs and explain that the person will provide excellent service.
6. Demonstrates commitment to excellent service recovery when a customer’s expectations have not been met.

Commitment to Co-Workers:
1. Offers assistance to colleagues and other departments when needed.
2. Takes responsibility for solving problems regardless of origin; completes assignments, and respects deadlines.
3. Resolves conflict directly with colleagues and seeks assistance from others if the issue cannot be resolved. Refrains from criticism in public.
4. Mindful and respectful of others’ time and schedules. Attends meetings on time and communicates any absences. 
5. Provides co-workers with a status report for continuity of workflow when planning to be out of the office, off the unit, or away from the department

Communication Etiquette: 
1. Respectful, courteous and professional in all forms of communication and follows facility’s service communication protocol in all interactions.
2. Refrains from use of personal cell phone in patient care areas and keeps usage to a minimum at all other times while on duty.
3. Does not text or use e-mail during meetings (except for exigent or emergency situations).
4. Limits use of business cell phone during meetings (remain on vibrate and/or calls go to voicemail).
5. Makes every effort to answer telephone calls within three rings, introducing him/herself, department and title (if appropriate). Asks permission before placing the caller on hold or using the speakerphone. If caller is transferred, gives the caller the extension number of the person he or she is being transferred to. Offers 
further assistance to the caller upon completing the conversation.
6. Maintains an appropriate voicemail message and when away from the office has an out-of-office email 
message that is brief, current, and includes name and department and offers the caller options if possible.
7. Returns email and voicemail messages promptly but no later than within one business day (24 hours).
8. Always mindful of voice and language in public.

Self Management:
1. Reports to work appropriately groomed and in compliance with the Hospital’s dress code. Wears identification badge at all times at chest level and facing outwards so identification is clearly visible.
2. Complete all assignments within deadlines or negotiates alternative actions and time frames in order to achieve desired outcomes. 
3. Completes mandatory, annual education and competency requirements. 
4. Follows UMCAP safety, infection control and employee health standards. 
5. Demonstrates responsibility for personal growth, development and professional knowledge and competency.
6. Adhere to all UMCAP and department policies and procedures, including Code of Conduct and professional behavior standards. Does not exceed Hospital guidelines in reference to attendance, punctuality, and use of sick and unplanned absences. Provides notification of absences, lateness and vacation requests according to 
department guidelines. Respects length of time for lunch and break times. 
7. Reviews, signs, and adheres to UMCAP and/or departmental confidentiality statement.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Licensure/Certification/Registration

Required: Current Maryland license in good standing as Registered Nurse/equivalent Healthcare field, or equivalent education in Nursing, Medicine, Healthcare, or Human 
Factors/Patient Engineering.
 

Preferred: Certified Patient Safety Professional

Education/Knowledge

Attained Level: Professional - Bachelors of Science in Nursing, Health Sciences, Medicine or equivalent Health Care field.

Preferred: Advanced professional - Master’s Degree
 

Applicable Experience
Experience (years): Required: 5 years Preferred: Experience (describe required & preferred): 

• 5 years clinical experience in hospital including experience with facilitating and leading safety and quality improvement initiatives
• 2 years experience in quality or safety role preferred

Technical/Clinical Skills
Demonstrated broad based knowledge of improvement methodology and ability to coach staff. Ability to facilitate clinical quality/safety improvement and the problem-solving process in a clinical setting.

Microsoft Office Suite Skill Level 

• Word: Intermediate
• Excel: Basic
• PowerPoint: Basic

Standard Office Equipment (list): Computer, facsimile, Answering Machine
Other: PBX

Communication Skills & Abilities
Ability to facilitate clinical safety improvement and the problem-solving process in a clinical setting. 
Select highest applicable level: Effective Oral/Written Skills and Provide Empathy
Language: English

Problem Solving/Analytical Skills & Abilities
Professional/Supervisory
 

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.