Quality Specialist

Memorial Hermann Health System; United States; On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Memorial Hermann Health System is seeking a Quality Specialist to review, monitor, and analyze data to enhance safe patient care. The position involves leading quality improvement programs, facilitating process optimization, and collaborating with healthcare professionals.

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor's degree and experience in a healthcare setting, with expertise in quality assurance, data analysis, and strong communication skills. Join us in making a difference in the quality of care we provide.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years of healthcare experience or five years in lieu of a degree.
• Ability to collaborate with healthcare professionals at all levels to achieve goals.
• Self-motivated with proven communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Utilize Clinical Effectiveness framework for performance improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate project initiatives and meetings to achieve goals.
• Apply performance-improvement methodologies like Lean and Six Sigma.

Skills

Data-driven performance improvement

Quality assurance/quality improvement

Communication skills

Statistical software proficiency

Team facilitation

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in public health, business, economics, computer science, nursing, or pharmacy

Tools

Excel

Minitab

Tableau

Job description

Job Summary

The Quality Specialist is responsible for reviewing, monitoring, and analyzing data to drive quality improvement that enhances delivery of safe patient care as measured by external reporting programs such as CMS, Vizient, Leapfrog, and U.S. News & World Report (USNWR). The role serves as the subject‑matter expert in external quality reporting, leads coordination of submission, reporting, program optimization, and identification of improvement opportunities. It also facilitates robust process improvement (RPI) activities to identify opportunities for optimization and reduce defects/waste within the systems of care, leveraging evidence‑based practices, regulatory requirements, and high‑risk, high‑volume or problem‑prone process analysis. The position collaborates with process owners, organization leaders, physicians, and hospital councils to share best practices and support system‑wide learning. The specialist also participates in clinical quality measures data collection, ensuring inter‑rater reliability and successful submission.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in a work‑related field (e.g., public health, business, economics, computer science, nursing, pharmacy) from an accredited institution. Preferred.
• Licenses/Certifications: Project Management, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, or Robust Process Improvement certification preferred.
• Experience / Knowledge / Skills: • Three (3) years of healthcare experience with a bachelor’s degree, or five (5) years in lieu of a degree, within a large acute‑care hospital or health‑care system. • Expertise in data‑driven performance improvement, quality assurance/quality improvement, and value‑based care. • Self‑motivated with proven communication skills and the ability to influence. • Demonstrated effective working relationships with physicians and leadership. • Ability to collaborate with healthcare professionals at all levels to achieve goals and improve outcomes. • Strong team facilitation skills, building trust and open communication. • Proficiency with statistical software, data visualization, and spreadsheets (e.g., Excel, Minitab, Tableau). • Knowledge of change‑management tools/techniques and ability to apply them to projects.

Principal Accountabilities

• Utilize the Clinical Effectiveness framework to focus performance‑improvement initiatives on improving outcomes, appropriateness of care, patient‑centeredness, and value.
• Coordinate project initiatives, meetings, and clinical program management to achieve service‑ and unit‑specific goals and strategic direction.
• Apply multiple performance‑improvement methodologies and tools (Lean, Six Sigma, FMEA) to projects.
• Use advanced quantitative and statistical skills to evaluate, interpret data, summarize results, and make recommendations.
• Understand and use structure to drive process changes that move toward desired outcomes.
• Use decision‑support systems such as Access or other relational databases.
• Influence effectively to create synergy, prioritize projects, set goals and action plans, and measure impact.
• Maintain awareness of inpatient/outpatient quality measures receiving external visibility (CMS, HealthGrades, U.S. News & World Report (USNWR), Leapfrog, HEDIS).
• Participate in and coordinate comprehensive data collection for compliance with national, state, regional, and internal clinical quality measures.
• Identify improvement opportunities based on evidence‑based clinical practices and statistical analysis of current practice patterns.
• Contribute to short‑term and long‑term RPI projects to continuously improve clinical quality measuring, monitoring, and compliance programs.
• Facilitate site or RPI project teams.
• Ensure safe care to patients, staff, and visitors while adhering to all Memorial Hermann policies, procedures, and standards within budgetary specifications, including time management, supply management, productivity, and quality of service.
• Promote individual professional growth and development by meeting mandatory/continuing education and skills competency requirements; support department‑based goals that contribute to organizational success; serve as preceptor, mentor, and resource to less experienced staff.
• Demonstrate commitment to caring for every member of our community by creating compassionate and personalized experiences.
• Other duties as assigned.