Clinical Risk and Patient Safety (Quality Improvement Specialist)

City of Hope; Duarte (CA); On-site; USD 111,000 - 177,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Hope in Duarte, CA seeks a Quality Improvement Specialist to lead risk management and patient safety initiatives across the National Medical Center's high-reliability journey. You will partner with clinical teams to identify, assess, and reduce risk while driving clinical quality reporting and regulatory readiness.

The role emphasizes data analytics, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis, and performance improvement consulting.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in nursing or a BSN with a Master’s degree in a related field (experience may substitute).
• Three years of experience in clinical nursing and/or quality, risk, and regulatory activities.
• Current California RN license.
• Experience in risk management and performance improvement.
• Thorough knowledge of Joint Commission, Title 22, CMS Conditions of Participation, and other regulatory requirements.
• Strong analytical skills with risk management and performance improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead patient safety activities, including event reviews, adverse event investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action planning.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret safety data, complaints, grievances, incident reports, and medical records to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Facilitate clinical risk assessments, proactive risk modeling, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis, and safety rounds to identify potential hazards.
• Partner with the Director of Risk and Patient Safety to assess compliance, conduct gap analyses, and develop action plans for patient safety standards.
• Develop and deliver focused patient safety education for clinical and non-clinical staff.
• Collaborate with Quality Analytics, Biostatistics, and other teams to support data access and reporting.
• Present meaningful reports to committees, highlight performance improvement opportunities, and monitor intervention effectiveness.
• Serve as an internal performance improvement consultant using data, change theory, and gap analysis to strengthen care and compliance.
• Build collaborative relationships across departments and promote clear communication with staff, leaders, patients, families, and healthcare providers.

Skills

Risk management

Data analytics

Quality improvement

Clinical nursing

Education

Master's degree in nursing

BSN with Master's in related field

Job description

Join the transformative team at City of Hope, where we're changing lives and making a real difference in the fight against cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening illnesses. City of Hope's growing national system includes its Los Angeles campus, a network of clinical care locations across Southern California, a new cancer center in Orange County, California, and treatment facilities in Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix. Our dedicated and compassionate employees are driven by a common mission: To deliver the cures of tomorrow to the people who need them today.

Position Summary

The Quality Improvement Specialist serves as a clinical expert in risk management and patient safety, supporting the National Medical Center's high-reliability journey through data analytics, best practices, and clinical expertise. In this highly collaborative role, you will partner with operational and medical teams to proactively identify, assess, and reduce risk. You will also lead clinical quality reporting, regulatory readiness, and strategic improvement initiatives that enhance patient outcomes and help minimize liability.

As a successful candidate, you will:

• Lead patient safety activities, including event reviews, adverse event investigations, root cause analyses, and corrective action planning.
• Collect, analyze, and interpret safety data, complaints, grievances, incident reports, and medical record information to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Facilitate clinical risk assessments, proactive risk modeling, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis, and safety rounds to identify potential hazards.
• Partner with the Director of Risk and Patient Safety to assess compliance, conduct gap analyses, and develop action plans for patient safety standards.
• Develop and deliver focused patient safety education for clinical and non-clinical staff.
• Collaborate with Quality Analytics, Biostatistics, and other teams to support accurate, timely, and consistent access to relevant data.
• Present meaningful reports to committees, highlight performance improvement opportunities, and monitor the effectiveness of interventions.
• Serve as an internal performance improvement consultant, using data, change theory, systems analysis, PDSA, and gap analysis to strengthen care and compliance.
• Build collaborative relationships across departments and promote clear communication among staff, leaders, patients, families, and healthcare providers.

Your qualifications should include:

• Master's degree in nursing, or a BSN with a Master's degree in a related or complementary field. Experience may substitute for educational requirements.
• Three years of experience in clinical nursing and/or quality, risk, and regulatory activities.
• Current California RN license.
• Experience in risk management and performance improvement.
• Thorough knowledge of The Joint Commission, Title 22, CMS Conditions of Participation, and other regulatory requirements.
• Strong analytical skills working with risk management and performance improvement.

Additional Information:

Job Status: Full time, exempt

Salary range $110,837 - $177,340

City of Hope employees pay is based on the following criteria: work experience, qualifications, and work location.

City of Hope is an equal opportunity employer.