Director, Patient Safety

100 Baystate Medical Center; United States; On-site; USD 158,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

Baystate Health in Springfield, MA, seeks a Director of Patient Safety to advance a culture of safety, reliability, and continuous improvement across the system. You will lead safety programs, data-driven analyses, and cross-functional initiatives with clinical and operational partners.

The role requires a clinical license, a Bachelor’s degree, and 5+ years in patient safety or quality improvement. Expect strategic influence, regulatory readiness, and a commitment to Just Culture and high

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required and active clinical license.
• 5+ years in patient safety, quality, or performance improvement.
• Strong knowledge of regulatory standards and healthcare operations.
• Proven ability to lead programs and influence stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Safety Reporting System (SRS) and triage safety events.
• Identify trends, risks, and system vulnerabilities; coordinate responses.
• Lead RCAs and structured investigations for lasting improvements.
• Drive corrective actions and disseminate learning across teams.
• Apply problem-solving methods (PDSA, RCA) with clinical leaders.
• Use data to identify gaps and inform priorities and decisions.
• Align workflows with regulatory and evidence-based standards.
• Operationalize HRO and Just Culture to foster safe reporting.
• Coach leaders to create psychologically safe environments.
• Embed safety into daily operations through education.
• Develop standard work for consistency across departments.
• Monitor adherence via audits, dashboards, and escalations.
• Collaborate with physicians and operations on system challenges.
• Lead a high-performing team of Quality & Safety staff.

Skills

Leadership

Data analysis

Quality improvement

Healthcare operations

Education

Bachelor's degree

Clinical license

Tools

SRS

RCA tools

Job description

Baystate Health, a nationally recognized leader in healthcare quality and safety, is seeking a Director of Patient Safety who thrives at the intersection of data, systems thinking, and culture transformation in Springfield, MA. This is a high-impact opportunity to shape and advance a culture of safety and high reliability across a leading healthcare organization.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead Patient Safety Programs & Event Management

• Oversee the Safety Reporting System (SRS), ensuring timely review, triage, and resolution of safety events
• Identify trends, risks, and system vulnerabilities; elevate and coordinate cross-functional responses
• Lead root cause analyses (RCA) and structured investigations, ensuring actionable and sustained improvements
• Drive follow-through on corrective action plans and disseminate learning across teams

Drive Systems Thinking & Performance Improvement

• Partner with clinical and operational leaders to apply structured problem-solving methodologies (PDSA, RCA, etc.)
• Use data to identify gaps, inform priorities, and guide decision-making
• Align workflows, policies, and practices with regulatory and evidence-based standards

Advance a Culture of Safety & High Reliability

• Operationalize HRO and Just Culture principles to foster transparency, accountability, and continuous learning
• Coach and support leaders in building psychologically safe environments that encourage reporting
• Embed safety practices into daily operations through education and engagement

Standardize & Align Across the System

• Develop and sustain standard work to ensure consistency and reliability across departments
• Monitor adherence through audits, dashboards, and escalation processes
• Align patient safety initiatives with broader organizational quality and operational goals

Ensure Regulatory & Quality Program Excellence

• Oversee regulatory reporting and compliance with agencies such as The Joint Commission, DPH, and PCAP
• Support accreditation readiness, including mock tracers and survey preparation
• Ensure integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of all quality and safety data submissions

Enhance Communication & Visibility

• Lead tiered huddles and visual management systems to improve transparency and situational awareness
• Utilize dashboards and performance metrics to drive accountability and action

Collaborate Across the Organization

• Partner with physicians, clinical leaders, and operational teams to address system-level challenges
• Foster interdisciplinary collaboration to advance patient safety and quality outcomes

Lead & Develop a High-Performing Team

• Supervise and mentor Quality & Safety Specialists
• Build team capability in RCA facilitation, data analysis, and improvement methodologies
• Support workforce development and align team performance with organizational priorities

SCHEDULE

Full-time

LOCATION

Springfield, MA

Requires travel to Greenfield, Westfield, and Palmer

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelors Degree, required
• Clinical degree with active license, required
• Minimum of 5+ years of progressive experience in patient safety, quality, or performance improvement
• Strong knowledge of healthcare operations, regulatory requirements, and accreditation standards
• Expertise in quality improvement methodologies, systems thinking, and data analysis
• Proven ability to lead programs, influence stakeholders, and drive change across complex systems
• Exceptional communication, facilitation, and leadership skills
• Education: Bachelor of Science (Required)
• Certifications: Compensation

COMPENSATION NOTE

The compensation range(s) in the table below represent the base salaries for all positions at a given grade across the health system. Typically, a new hire can expect a starting salary somewhere in the lower part of the range. Actual salaries may vary by position and will be determined based on the candidate's relevant experience. No employee will be paid below the minimum of the range. Pay ranges are listed as hourly for non-exempt employees and based on assumed full time commitment for exempt employees.

Minimum - Midpoint - Maximum $158,371.00 - $182,041.00 - $215,342.00

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Baystate Health is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, ancestry, age, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.

ABOUT BAYSTATE HEALTH

Baystate Health (BH) is one of New England’s leading and largest integrated health care organizations, serving a population of nearly one million people throughout western New England. With roots dating back to the founding of Springfield City Hospital in 1873, Baystate Health has been providing high-quality and compassionate health care in western Massachusetts for more than 145 years. With more than 12,000 employees, a medical staff of nearly 3,100 physicians, and a net patient service revenue of more than $1.4 billion, the ever-growing health system includes five Massachusetts hospitals and the Baystate Mary Lane Outpatient Center in Ware: Baystate Medical Center in Springfield Baystate Children’s Hospital (located at Baystate Medical Center) Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer Baystate Noble Hospital in Westfield