Patient Safety Specialist, Office of Quality, 8a-5p

JOB DESCRIPTION: Promotes the philosophy that building a Culture of Safety is paramount to the success of the organization’s Patient Safety Plan. Supports Emory Healthcare’s Vision of a Fair and Just Culture, Patient Family Centered Care, and other EHC cultural attributes at the operating unit level. Reports to the operating unit Director of Quality and Patient Safety, and partners with that Director, the Patient Safety Program Director (across EHC System), and the (system-level) Patient Safety Officer to improve patient safety by implementing safety science and assuring that best practices are implemented across the Emory Healthcare system.

Investigates patient safety issues using event analysis methodology to conduct critical incident reviews (Critical Event Analysis, Root Cause Analysis, FMEA-Failure Mode Effects Analysis) of adverse patient events and/or near miss events. Oversees and communicates safety improvements as a result of the reviews to facility leadership. Prepares reports to comply with reporting requirements for regulatory agencies including Department of Community Heath (DCH) and Safe Medical Device Act (SMDA).

Utilizes a reporting system based on the institutional reports and analyses for programmatic direction, contributes to the annual revisions to the Patient Safety Plan, provides regular feedback to entity based leadership groups, and serves as functional liaison to Risk Management and other investigative teams.

Responsible for integrating patient safety into the organizational structure and daily routine by coaching clinical and administrative leaders regarding methods and error prevention strategy, and by disseminating lessons learned across the organization. Manages/supports multiple quality projects related to patient safety simultaneously and performs other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Licensure as a Registered Nurse in the state of Georgia strongly preferred, not required. BA/BS degree in a clinical discipline with three (3) years of experience in a clinical healthcare environment. Experience in clinical operations and/or experience working in performance improvement, patient safety, risk management or quality management areas in the healthcare environment. Knowledge of adverse event investigation, sentinel events, root cause analysis methodology, group facilitation, project management, and healthcare regulatory event reporting requirements. Knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint & hospital adverse occurrence/risk management surveillance systems and mechanisms. Experience with Human Factors and/or CPHQ, CPHRM, or Patient Safety Certification preferred.