Patient Safety & Clinical Risk Specialist

Job Description Summary The Patient Safety and Clinical Risk Specialist will champion the organization-wide patient safety program. This role will direct others within the facility towards process improvements that will support the reduction of medical/health care errors and other factors that contribute to unintended adverse patient outcomes. This practitioner helps facilitate safety assessments, coordinates the activities of the patient safety committee, educates other practitioners on human factors and system-based causes for medical error, consults with management and staff, and communicates literature-based ideas regarding effective patient safety strategies to others within the organization. This individual will promote the hospital’s culture of safety via implementation of just culture principles and help champion our continuous journey towards becoming a high reliability organization. Specific focus will be toward the review and reduction of medical errors and other factors that contribute to unintended adverse patient outcomes and patient dissatisfaction. Works collaboratively with administrators, managers, physicians and colleagues at all levels to identify and enhance patient safety practices which produce quantitative and qualitative results for both internal and external customers. Provides on-going support, instruction and facilitation to all aspects of the Health System’s efforts to meet and exceed patient safety related regulatory agency standards. Performance outcome deliverables include quality, safety, process improvements and regulatory compliance. Job Description ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 1 - Use clinical expertise to identify and evaluate activities or events occurring within the Hospital that have the potential to lead to patient injury and/or which represent opportunities to improve the safety of services provided a - Regularly review event reporting and other patient safety/risk management data to identify trends for quality improvement purposes. b - Participate in event investigation in collaboration with appropriate local leaders. c - Maintain appropriate documents/reports/reviews demonstrating event review status and results d - Demonstrate a high degree of professionalism when working with staff involved with adverse events, promoting collaboration and a just culture. e - Actively participate in other committees and workgroups to review identified trends and develop sustainable action plans f - Make recommendations for enhancing methods used for identifying and evaluating activities or events that could lead to patient injury g - Produce and present reports and presentations utilizing various applications and/or multimedia systems related to patient safety education and patient safety activities 2 - Provide effective facilitation for conducting patient safety/clinical risk assessments and adverse event investigations, including root cause analyses and implementation of effective corrective action plans. a - Lead the Patient Safety Steering Committee to prioritize efforts in ensuring a culture of safety at the hospital b - Conduct root cause analysis in collaboration with Quality Management colleagues, including development and implementation of sustainable corrective action plans c - Conduct patient safety assessment using information gleaned from internal data trends as well as from published patient safety literature d - Review and analyze medical records to determine completeness and accuracy of documentation utilizing sound documentation standards. e - Monitor and ensure completion of action plans with key stakeholders and team members. f - Collaborate with Quality Management colleagues to support and assist in the implementation of performance improvement plan initiatives arising out of root cause analyses and clinical risk management investigations. g - Utilize a self-motivated approach to individual assignments as well as departmental/program needs h - Lead and participate in ongoing organizational needs assessments for patient safety and clinical risk management and regulatory compliance, including but not limited to the Joint Commission, Board of Registration in Medicine, and Department of Public Health. i - Ensure cases are reported to the Joint Commission, Board of Registration in Medicine, and Department of Public Health, as required j - Maintain up-to-date knowledge of existing and proposed patient safety related regulatory agency standards 3 - Demonstrates clinical and technical expertise in the areas of patient safety and clinical risk management and provide consultative assistance to individuals or groups as necessary a - Continued learning and development around advancements in medical care is demonstrated by staying abreast of current literature and practice in patient safety and clinical risk management b - Is viewed by peers as a clinical expert in the area of patient safety. Search the literature for new technologies, evidence-based practices, published error experience and applicable patient safety standards to serve as a content expert c - Monitor and disseminate patient safety standards, regulations, articles, etc. to the appropriate departments within the Hospital d - Participate in on-call coverage, as assigned. 4 - Education & Training/Development: Educate and train colleagues and medical staff in the organization on the system based causes for medical errors and other issues related to patient safety and clinical risk management. a - Provide patient safety and risk management educational programs to hospital employees and medical staff. Topics to include, but not limited to, the event reporting process, team work, patient safety science concepts, effective communication and documentation skills, regulatory updates related to patient safety and risk management b - Lead process to communicate, plan for, monitor and evaluate new developments in patient safety/risk management involving key staff from all relevant areas. JOB REQUIREMENTS Minimum Education Bachelor’s degree in health care related field, preferably nursing. Master’s degree desired. Minimum Work Experience Minimum hospital experience of 5 years with experience in patient safety, quality improvement, and/or risk management preferred. Required Licenses / Certifications Registered Nurse – Board of Registration in Nursing (Massachusetts) Required additional Knowledge, and Abilities Ability to work effectively with minimal supervision using good judgment, common sense, leadership ability, and a thorough understanding of the principles of safety services. Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Power Point and Excel required. Ability to utilize problem–solving techniques. Ability to plan, organize and direct program activities. #J-18808-Ljbffr