Sr. Quality Specialist

At Memorial Hermann, we pursue a common goal of delivering high quality, efficient care while creating exceptional experiences for every member of our community. When we say every member of our community, that includes our employees. We know that when our employees feel cared for, heard and valued, they are inspired to create moments that exceed expectations, while prioritizing safety, compassion, personalization and efficiency. If you want to advance your career and contribute to our vision of creating healthier communities, now and for generations to come, we want you to be a part of our team.

Job Summary

The Senior Quality Specialist is responsible for reviewing, monitoring, and analyzing data to drive quality improvement that improves the delivery of safe patient care as measured by external reporting programs such as CMS, Vizient, Leapfrog, and USNWR. In collaboration with senior leadership, the Senior Quality Specialist leads multi-disciplinary, cross-functional teams in medium- to large-scale initiatives to improve healthcare delivery, patient safety, accountable care, and health equity. This role combines the clinical expertise required to change practice with the leadership skills to influence clinical processes, systems, and outcomes. Identifies and executes on opportunities for care delivery optimization and waste reduction using evidence-based best practices, workflow redesign, data analysis, and change management skills, while balancing regulatory and accrediting agency requirements. This position is responsible for identifying opportunities, negotiating timelines and priorities for projects, coordinating action plans, and monitoring/analyzing results for projects that are consistent with the organization's strategic goals and objectives.

Job Description

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in a work-related field/discipline (i.e. public health, business, economics, computer science, nursing, pharmacy) from an accredited college or university required.

• Master's Degree in a work-related field/discipline (i.e. public health, business, economics, computer science, nursing, pharmacy) from an accredited college or university preferred.

Licenses/Certifications:

• Project Management, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, or Robust Process Improvement certification required.

Experience / Knowledge / Skills:

• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible and directly related work experience, five (5) years with a Master’s degree, within a large acute care hospital or health care system in one or more of the following areas:
  • Data-driven performance improvement
  • Quality assurance/quality improvement
  • Value-based care

• Clinical experience, such as nursing or pharmacy preferred

• Epic experience preferred

• Demonstrated experience defining data requirements, analyzing data, and translating trends and findings into dashboards and actionable clinical performance improvement recommendations

• Proven ability to excel in high level strategy to hands-on implementation and project management as needed. Passionate about creating a more efficient, effective, and equitable U.S. healthcare system

• Ability to influence, attention to detail, project management, written, and oral communication skills

• Proficiency or above in Excel, Tableau, Minitab (intermediate level preferred)

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Leads and champions the function of clinical quality effectiveness, improvement, patient safety, utilization, and health equity goals, working collaboratively with physicians and staff across the system.

• Provides leadership to assigned areas including facilitation of committees or workgroups and communication of shared learnings to ensure sustainability of quality initiatives.

• Actively coaches cross-functional teams and leaders how to continuously raise the standards of excellence in quality outcomes.

• Develops and implements effective analysis, research and evaluation of quality management, cost, and patient experience metrics, key drivers, processes, and workflows, based on best practices and evidence-based literature review synthesis.

• Works with clinical teams and Network Performance team to develop targeted interventions, including care redesign where appropriate, and to develop implementation plans with metrics and timelines.

• Develops standard work, including evidence-based clinical pathways for complex care in collaboration with physician leaders of the clinical programs.

• Helps translate clinical pathways into Epic order sets and decision support tools in collaboration with nursing, pharmacy and ISD teams.

• Conducts scholarly work in clinical effectiveness and high value care, and present and publish the findings.

• Collaborates closely with the Technology, Digital Services, and Analytics team to support the definition and inclusion of key metrics into meaningful dashboards, reports, and data visualizations. Leverages the data and insights necessary to inform tactical planning, evaluation and the improvement of projects, programs and clinical operations, while ensuring the validity and accuracy of the data.

• Communicates shared learnings and ensures sustainability of quality initiatives.

• Provides leadership for creating a culture of patient safety and works with various constituencies to ensure compliance to the National Patient Safety Goals.

• Provides content knowledge in the interpretation, implementation, and maintenance of internal and external reporting and standards requirements (e.g., USNWR, MACRA, Joint Commission, Title 22, Leapfrog, Vizient).

• Advises on the appropriate use of quality improvement tools and methodologies, such as PDCA, Lean, Six Sigma, and Statistical Process Control Analysis.

• Cultivates cross-departmental relationships to better coordinate project opportunities.

• Provides mentorship to the Quality Specialists and other MHHS leaders and staff.

• Leads multi-disciplinary and multi-department strategic quality initiatives.

• Maintains network with affiliate institutions, organizations, and associations and other health care providers to stay in touch with developments and trends in the healthcare market as it relates to best practices.

• Educates and mentor staff and physicians on RPI techniques, and provides evidenced based care to improve clinical outcomes.

• Ensures safe care to patients, staff and visitors; adheres to all Memorial Hermann policies, procedures, and standards within budgetary specifications including time management, supply management, productivity and quality of service.

• Promotes individual professional growth and development by meeting requirements for mandatory/continuing education and skills competency; supports department-based goals which contribute to the success of the organization; serves as preceptor, mentor and resource to less experienced staff.

• Demonstrates commitment to caring for every member of our community by creating compassionate and personalized experiences. Models Memorial Hermann’s service standards by providing safe, caring, personalized and efficient experiences to patients and colleagues.

• Other duties as assigned.