Master Improvement Advisor

Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition assistance program

Employee benefits package

Job summary

Penn Medicine is seeking a Master Improvement Advisor to lead quality, patient safety, and operational improvement across the organization. You will mentor teams, facilitate PI projects, and drive data-driven improvements that enhance patient experience and clinical quality.

The role requires Six Sigma certification and 5+ years in healthcare performance improvement, with strong data skills and collaboration with leadership.

Qualifications

• Master of Arts or Science required; healthcare performance improvement preferred.
• Six Sigma Green or Black Belt required; Master Black Belt preferred.
• 5+ years of planning, implementation, and evaluation of performance improvement in healthcare.
• Knowledge of CMS Core Measures, Value Based Purchasing, and quality standards.

Responsibilities

• Leads quality, patient safety, and operational improvement initiatives across the organization.
• Mentors Senior Improvement Advisors and educates staff on PI methods.
• Facilitates PI projects and kaizen events with leadership and frontline teams.
• Analyzes data trends, benchmarks, and ensures continuous survey readiness.
• Collaborates with leadership to prioritize and implement PI strategies.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Project management

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Master's degree

Tools

Tableau/Power BI

SQL

Excel

Job description

Description Penn Medicine is dedicated to our tripartite mission of providing the highest level of care to patients, conducting innovative research, and educating future leaders in the field of medicine. Working for this leading academic medical center means collaboration with top clinical, technical and business professionals across all disciplines.

Description Penn Medicine is dedicated to our tripartite mission of providing the highest level of care to patients, conducting innovative research, and educating future leaders in the field of medicine. Working for this leading academic medical center means collaboration with top clinical, technical and business professionals across all disciplines. Today at Penn Medicine, someone will make a breakthrough. Someone will heal a heart, deliver hopeful news, and give comfort and reassurance. Our employees shape our future each day. Are you living your life's work?

Job Title: Master Improvement Advisor

Department: Medicine Outpatient GI PAH

Entity: Clinical Practices of the University of Pennsylvania (CPUP)

Location: PAH Farm Journal Building - 230 W Washington Square

Hours: M-F, 8-4:30 with flexibility in hours based on operational need

Summary:

• The Master Improvement Advisor leads quality, patient safety, and operational improvement projects throughout the organization. The Master Improvement Advisor applies process improvement, engineering, change management and economic principles to optimize clinical practice and improve quality, safety, and the patient experience. The Master Improvement Advisor may mentor entity Senior Improvement Advisors, providing support and experience for entity process improvement when needed. This work includes, but is not limited to, facilitation of PI projects and kaizen events; management and surveillance of data for PI opportunities; messaging trends in the data to leadership, departments and staff; training and mentorship to other Improvement Advisors; education of front-line staff in the latest PI methods. This position is accountable for facilitating improvement in the areas of patient satisfaction, clinical quality, and patient safety, operations, and continuous survey readiness.
• The Master Improvement Advisor has these key areas of responsibility:
• Leads the quality, patient safety, and operational improvement throughout the entire organization through the mentorship of Senior Improvement Advisors.
• Provides principles and techniques to improve quality, patient safety, and the overall performance of selected departments and service lines.
• Facilitates improvement activities to insure safe, effective, and compliant patient services.
• Seeks out, through management and surveillance data, PI opportunities.
• Excellent mentor, trainer, and educator using most current practices and principles.

Responsibilities:

• Planning & Facilitation:
• Helps teams plan and stay organized.
• Sets pace for team projects.
• Keeps teams on track in PI cycle and project timelines.
• Actively assists with planning and implementing PI strategies for the entity and the health system.
• Collaborates with leadership & frontlines to effectively prioritize problem solving
• Problem Solving:
• Keeps focus on processes, not people.
• Provides PI support for process redesign to help UPHS achieve its goals under the Blueprint.
• Promptly investigates serious safety events and quality concerns when needed and provides PI support for process redesign.
• Applies PI methods and tools appropriately.
• Provides PI support for continuous survey readiness as needed.
• Coaching, Mentoring & Teaching:
• Is a PI teacher for multiple levels of the health system.
• Asks insightful questions.
• Challenges teams, entity & UPHS leadership to improve their PI work.
• Is clear & concise, makes learning points understood.
• Gives useful feedback
• Influence & Relationships:
• Strong ability to network.
• Can build and support a team.
• Has a positive internal customer focus.
• Can persuade effectively.
• Engages stakeholders.
• Is a voice people listen to.
• Is viewed as a resource for complex PI work for the health system
• Data Management:
• Helps teams and leadership access useful data.
• Helps the organization understand trends, the meaning of data, and how it compares to benchmarks.
• Brings tools to teams and leadership that are useful for data analysis and dissemination.
• Is effective in disseminating information.Maintains data integrity & validity.

Credentials:

• LCSW or LPC or MFT or NCC or PHD or PN or RN or PS or RN or (Required)
• If applicant holds a medical license, (e.g. RN) proof of licensure is required
• Six Sigma Green or Black Belt (Required), Six Sigma Master Black Belt (MSSBB) preferred

Education or Equivalent Experience:

• Master of Arts or Science (Required)
• And 5+ years experience in planning, implementation, and evaluation of a performance improvement plan is required, preferably in a health care field.
• Clinical experience is preferred, though candidates with MHA, MBA, MPH, or MS will be considered if there is commensurate work experience in healthcare performance improvement.
• Knowledge of national standards and outcomes for quality, safety and healthcare- such as CMS Core Measures & Value Based Purchasing, AHRQ PSI’s, Leapfrog, US News and World Report rankings- is preferred.
• Root cause analysis experience is desired.

We believe that the best care for our patients starts with the best care for our employees. Our employee benefits programs help our employees get healthy and stay healthy. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits program that includes one of the finest prepaid tuition assistance programs in the region. Penn Medicine employees are actively engaged and committed to our mission. Together we will continue to make medical advances that help people live longer, healthier lives.

Live Your Life's Work

We are an Equal Opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, familial status, genetic information, domestic or sexual violence victim status, citizenship status, military status, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable law.