Patient Safety Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the direct supervision of the CQO, effectively analyzes safety vent reports, initiate investigations and identify process improvement opportunities. The Patient Safety Specialist specializes in data management while qualified to facilitate process improvement when needed. Interfaces with internal and external clients to identify organizational vulnerabilities and interventions accordingly while providing care and compassion to peers, patients. and families. Presents pertinent information to key stakeholders, organizes meetings, and follows policy and departmental instructions.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

SERVICE:

• Consistently supports and communicates the Mission, Vision, and Values of St. Joseph Medical Center.
• Upholds the Standards of Conduct and Corporate Compliance. Represents the facility in a positive and professional manner.
• Develops, coordinates, and assists in facility-wide risk identification, investigation, and risk reduction.
• Maintains a network of sources and experts.
• Performs risk assessments for loss potential.
• Responsible for facility-wide training, process improvement, data analysis, presentations, and communication.

PEOPLE:

• Respond to requests for service in a timely manner.
• Respond to special requests and designs actionable data reports for various internal audiences that quickly and effectively directs improvement efforts and patient care.
• Collects and reviews issues expressed by departmental leaders, staff, physicians, insurers, or other sources, and facilitates appropriate mitigation plan.
• Promotes a culture of responsiveness and safety in the course of daily work.
• Inform department directors regarding occurrences, issues, findings, and risk management recommendations.
• Provides feedback to directors and staff, presents at department meetings, and maintains patient safety education calendar.

QUALITY:

• Reviews and scrutinizes event reports to determine effective harm reduction.
• Uses excellent documentation per department procedures for investigations, follow-ups, and closure.
• Consistently use a team approach and build relationships whenever possible.
• Provide proactive analysis of patient safety and medical errors which may include on-call responsibility.
• Use professional oral and written communication skills with internal and external clients, including regulatory or payor sources.
• Uses language that is clear, concise and compassionate, ensuring grammatical accuracy and succinctness of thought.
• Use safety language tools whenever possible.
• Adheres to regulatory guidelines regarding patient privacy laws and reporting standards.
• Maintains confidentiality of all patients, hospital, or physician information by using discretion when discussing certain matters.
• Utilizes performance tools as part of process improvements, problem analysis and measurement to lead projects.
• Effectively uses data to communicate including the ability to present data.
• Other duties as assigned.

GROWTH:

• Fosters a positive relationship with internal and external customers and utilizes growth opportunities in the department as well as within the patient safety/risk management field.
• Supports hospital initiatives by contributing to safety surveys, FMEAs, or OFIs.
• Cultivate systems and processes which support and illicit staff and patient feedback to improve and sustain safety measures.
• Participate in appropriate committees.
• Periodic in-services and routine orientation may be conducted for employees, leaders, or medical staff regarding healthcare risk management principles and a culture of safety.

FINANCE:

• Promotes stewardship of hospital resources.

MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

EDUCATION REQUIRED:

• High School Diploma/GED

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Minimum three (3) years' work experience in a clinical hospital setting.
• Experience in patient safety/quality management and/or facilitating interdisciplinary improvement teams in a healthcare setting or other relevant experience.
• Must be proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Advanced clerical skills, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong ability to track data, analyze and interpret numbers, and make recommendations based on data synthesis in a clear and logical representation to management and peers.
• Ability to work with diverse teams representing various disciplines and all levels of staff.
• Ability to solve problems, make independent decisions, formulate reports, perform statistical analysis, and interpret data.
• Able to effectively communicate in oral and written English language.
• Able to effectively navigate the electronic health record.

PREFERRED:

• Bachelor's degree Nursing, Nursing Informatics, Information Technology, Business, or degree related to applicable department preferred.
• Two (2) years of experience working directly with online safety-event reporting systems and/or experience facilitating quality improvement in a healthcare setting.
• Minimum one- five years' experience in a hospital setting
• Minimum one year in a hospital Quality Patient Safety role.
• Certified Patient Safety Specialist or other appropriate certification (within 5 years of hire)

Houston's oldest hospital is GROWING

Welcome to St. Joseph Medical Center (SJMC), Houston's first and only downtown hospital delivering world-class care for the last 137 years and looking forward to the next century of exceptional care to Houstonians when they need us most.

Whether it's for a scheduled surgery, the birth of a baby, an unexpected emergency, or an outpatient visit, we have staff available around the clock to provide you access to immediate, quality health care. SJMC has been providing health care services to Greater Houston residents for over 130 years, which should give you great comfort in knowing that we have a great tradition of caring for our community. We strive to meet our patients' expectations and encourage our patients to provide us with feedback on how we can help them have the best experience possible while they're in our care.

Over the last years we have expanded our services to include the Advanced Wound Care Center, Comprehensive Cardiac and Vascular Services, the Women's Center, the St. Joseph Maternal Fetal Medicine Center, and a Weight Loss Surgery Program, just to name a few. As you work with our physicians, nurses, case managers, educators, and other staff, you will be guided through your healthcare journey, from diagnosis to treatment, with compassion every step of the way.

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are at the foundation of the care St Joseph Medical Center provides to our community we are privileged to support in all of our employment practices. We do not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression or any other non-job-related characteristic.