Patient Safety and Quality Consultant

Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems; Richmond (VA); Vor Ort; USD 76.000 - 117.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems seeks a Patient Safety & Quality Consultant to advance safety across the health system by leading initiatives that reduce harm, improve reliability, and collaborate with executives, physicians, nursing, and operations.

The role focuses on facilitating RCAs, applying high-reliability principles, promoting a Just Culture, and redesigning processes to improve patient care, transitions, and data-informed decision making, with emphasis on population

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor's degree in nursing, healthcare administration, business administration, or related field.
• Master's degree in healthcare field or related; preferred.
• Supplemental coursework in quality improvement, data analysis, patient safety, Lean, Six Sigma, and project management.
• Course work in statistics.

Aufgaben

• Lead patient safety improvement initiatives designed to prevent patient harm and improve clinical outcomes.
• Facilitate Root Cause Analyses (RCAs) to identify system vulnerabilities and develop corrective actions.
• Apply high reliability organization principles to strengthen safety culture and reduce variation.
• Promote a Just Culture approach by focusing on system and process improvements.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to redesign processes that detect, mitigate, and prevent patient harm.
• Improve care transitions and healthcare processes to ensure safe, effective, equitable, efficient, and timely care delivery.

Kenntnisse

Data analysis

Process improvement

Facilitation

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Ausbildung

Bachelor's Degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or related field

Master's Degree in healthcare field or related

Fellowship in Patient Safety

Supplemental coursework in quality improvement

Course work in statistics

Tools

MS Project

Visio

MS Office

Jobbeschreibung

Essential Job Statements

Lead the integration of safety & quality into the fabric of the organization to achieve care targets. Advance the organization through collaboration, learning and communication.

• Implement processes for engagement and teamwork

• Create learning opportunities to advance the organization

• Communicate effectively in multiple venues via multiple routes

• Ensure appropriate use of data to drive change and improvement

Use proven methods to facilitate improvement initiatives

• Utilize performance and process improvement tools

• Implement change management methodology

• Employ project management tactics

Leverage data analytics to help guide decision-making and inform improvement initiatives

• Design and implement data structure and plans to support initiatives

• Integrate data from multiple sources into initiatives

• Use statistical and data visualization methods

Cultivate a safe healthcare environment by promoting safe practices, nurturing a just culture and improving processes that detect, mitigate, or prevent harm

• Facilitate root cause analyses and FMEAs

• Apply high-reliability principles to improvement initiatives

• Ensure focus remains on process-driven solutions rather than people-driven ones

• Promote psychological safety through transparency of data and information.

Evaluate and improve healthcare processes and care transitions to advance the safe, equitable, efficient, effective, and timely care of our diverse patient population.

• Integrate population health management strategies into initiatives

• Apply a holistic approach to improvement

• Collaborate to improve care processes and transitions

Maintain & update knowledge base

• Update professional knowledge applicable to the role by participating in education opportunities such as reading professional publications and networking locally and regionally.

• Complete required continuing education to maintain certification (as applicable).

Ensure responsibility and visible commitment of diversity equity and inclusion strategy, programs, and initiatives through collaboration and implementation of initiatives across the health system.

Performs other duties as assigned and/or participating in special projects in order to support the mission of VCUHS and the HR Business Advisory team. Accepting alternate responsibilities as required.

Patient Population

Not applicable to this position.

Employment Qualifications

Required Education:

Bachelor's Degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or related clinical or academic field

Preferred Education:

Master's Degree in healthcare field (e.g. MSHA, MPH, MSN, MHA), Quality Engineering, Business Administration or related field

Supplemental course work in quality improvement, such as quality methodologies/tools, data analysis, patient safety, Lean, Six Sigma, quality engineering, and/or project management

Course work in statistics

Fellowship in Patient Safety

Licensure/Certification Required:

Current license in the Commonwealth of Virginia (e.g. Registered Nurse, Pharmacist, Nurse Practitioner, Registered Dietitian or similar) if candidate holds a professional license

Licensure/Certification Preferred:

Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) preferred
Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) preferred
Certified Project Manager (PMP) preferred
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt preferred

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent within 1 year to maintain position

Minimum Qualifications

Years and Type of Required Experience

Minimum of three (3) years of work experience in the healthcare environment which may include hospital or clinic setting with specific experience in the following areas:

• clinical processes

• safety & quality improvement processes and tools

• facilitating and/or leading interdisciplinary groups

• leadership (formal or informal) in a healthcare organization

• collecting, organizing, and analyzing data

• developing and making presentations

Previous experience using a personal computer and software application to include the Internet, e-mail, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.), MS Project, Visio

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

Cultural Responsiveness

Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred:

Previous experience with organization-wide performance improvement and/or coordinating projects in an academic medical center with a wide variety of services, including ambulatory care, home care, emergency care, critical care, and inpatient care.

Previous experience applying and explaining statistical process control tools; conducting group facilitation/presentation; and designing data collection tools

Previous experience using mapping/flowcharting software and working with databases (e.g., Visio, Access)

Combination of education and experience in lieu of a degree.

Working Conditions

Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur.

General office environment.

May have periods of constant interruptions.

Prolonged periods of working alone.

Other: May be required to car travel to off-site locations occasionally

Physical Requirements

Physical Demands

Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs.)- up to 33% of the time

Push/ Pull (0-50 lbs.)- up to 33% of the time

Work Position

Sitting, Walking, Standing

Additional Physical Requirements

Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination)

Repetitive arm/hand movements

Finger Dexterity

Hazards

N/A

Mental / Sensory

Strong Recall, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Hearing, Speak Clearly, Write Legibly, Reading, Logical Thinking

Emotional

Fast-paced environment, Steady Pace, Able to Handle Multiple Priorities, Able to Adapt to Frequent Change

Patient Safety-Focused Summary

The Patient Safety & Quality Consultant is responsible for advancing a culture of patient safety across the health system by leading initiatives that reduce harm, improve reliability, and strengthen safety processes. The role partners with executive, physician, nursing, and operational leaders to identify safety risks, analyze adverse events, implement evidence-based improvements, and drive sustainable change that improves patient outcomes.

Primary Patient Safety Responsibilities

• Lead and facilitate patient safety improvement initiatives designed to prevent patient harm and improve clinical outcomes.
• Facilitate Root Cause Analyses (RCAs) to identify system vulnerabilities and develop corrective actions.
• Apply high reliability organization principles to strengthen safety culture, reduce variation, and improve process consistency.
• Promote a Just Culture approach by focusing on system and process improvements rather than individual blame.
• Foster psychological safety through transparent communication of safety and performance information.
• Identify safety trends, measure the effectiveness of interventions, and prioritize opportunities for risk reduction and harm prevention.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to redesign processes that detect, mitigate, and prevent patient harm.
• Improve care transitions and healthcare processes to ensure safe, effective, equitable, efficient, and timely care delivery.

Key Areas of Expertise

• Patient Safety and Harm Prevention
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
• High Reliability Principles
• Just Culture
• Change Management
• Team Facilitation and Stakeholder Engagement
• Healthcare Process Redesign and Risk Reduction

Executive Summary

The Patient Safety & Quality Consultant leads organization-wide patient safety efforts by investigating safety events, facilitating root cause analyses, applying high reliability and just culture principles, identifying and mitigating system risks, and partnering with clinical and operational leaders to implement sustainable improvements that prevent patient harm and improve patient outcomes.

Compensation Range

$75,524.80 - $117,083.20

Actual salary offers will be based on several key factors to include relevant work experience, credentials, and qualifications.

EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran