Sterile Processing Quality Improvement Specialist

Atrium Health; Winston-Salem (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Atrium Health in Winston-Salem, NC seeks a Quality Improvement professional to evaluate workflows, guide data-driven improvement projects and lead cross-functional teams. You will apply IHI/LEAN methods to boost patient care quality and safety.

The role emphasizes collaboration with departments to prioritize opportunities, develop education plans, and document outcomes for internal and external reporting. A health-care background is essential.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of quality improvement concepts, methods and tools (e.g., PDSA, rapid cycle quality improvement, LEAN, Six Sigma and reliability principles) and change management experience.
• Knowledge of computer systems and applications; knowledge of medical terminology, records, and clinical care processes.
• Experience using an evidence-based approach to facilitate multidisciplinary quality improvement work; proficient in team development and facilitation techniques.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates performance through assessment of workflow efficiency, competency of staff, utilization of resources, safety and compliance.
• Develops and facilitates implementation of improvement plans following the IHI Model for Improvement and LEAN.
• Works closely with select departments to identify and prioritize opportunities for improvement
• Analyzes data for patterns and trends in care delivery; discovers root causes for patient care trends and for critical event analysis; translates data into actionable information.
• Disseminates/displays data using run charts, histograms; maintains trended reports and summaries of key findings.
• Translates findings and outcomes and recommends strategies for early intervention and health/disease management; assists in facilitating changes and improvements.
• Assures all staff have education and resources needed to facilitate the change.
• Ensures administration, staff and providers are aware of performance vs. desired levels; disseminates information via meetings, flyers, email, SharePoint and training classes.
• Collaborates with teams to increase NCQA recognition for PCMH, Diabetes, Heart and Stroke; maintains recognition status.
• Assures improvement activities are documented and reported within the organization and externally as appropriate.
• Highlights results and accomplishments of QI initiatives.
• Demonstrates problem solving, leadership, conflict management and team building to ensure a productive work environment.
• Aligns efforts with other departments to increase likelihood of achieving common goals.
• Collaborates with leadership to create policies and procedures that ensure excellent quality care and minimize harm to the patient.
• Attends meetings, conferences and trainings related to continuous improvement.

Skills

Quality improvement

PDSA

LEAN

Six Sigma

Data analysis

Project management

Facilitation

Education

Bachelor's degree in health-related field or industrial engineering

Master's degree preferred

Equivalent work experience

Tools

SharePoint

Microsoft Excel

Job description

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor's degree in health related field or industrial engineering. Master's degree preferred or equivalent work experience. Four years' experience in health care setting with minimum of three years' experience in quality improvement, process improvement, change management, etc.

LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, and/or REGISTRATION:

Certification in Health Care Quality (CPHQ), Six Sigma or other health quality certification preferred.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. 1. Evaluates performance through assessment of workflow efficiency, competency of staff, utilization of resources, safety and compliance.
2. 2. Develops and facilitates implementation of improvement plans following the IHI Model for Improvement and LEAN.
3. 3. Works closely with select departments to identify and prioritize opportunities for improvement
4. 4. Analyzes data for patterns and trends in care delivery; discovers root causes for specific patient care trends and for critical event analysis (i.e., Root Cause Analysis, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis). Translates data into actionable information (using data to drive change).
5. 5. Disseminates/displays data using common performance improvement tools (e.g., run charts, histograms). Maintains trended reports and summaries of key findings.
6. 6. Translates findings and outcomes and recommend strategies for early intervention and health/disease management, new programs, workflow and operational improvement activities. Assists in facilitating changes and improvements based on the data.
7. 7. Assures all staff have the education and resource material needed to facilitate the change.
8. 8. Ensures administration, staff and providers are aware of performance in relation to the desired performance level, and the evidence base for the measure. Disseminates information via corporate meetings, flyers, email, SharePoint and in personalized office training classes.
9. 9. Collaborates with select teams to increase the number of practices/providers with NCQA recognition for Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH), Diabetes, Heart and Stroke, and others. Ensures those already recognized maintain their recognition status.
10. 10. Assures that improvement activities are documented and reported within the organization and externally as appropriate.
11. 11. Highlights results and accomplishments of QI initiatives.
12. 12. Demonstrates problem solving, leadership, conflict management and team building skills in order to ensure a productive work environment and achievement of goals.
13. 13. Aligns efforts with other departments to increase the likelihood of achieving our common goals.
14. 14. Collaborates with leadership and staff to create policies and procedures that ensure excellent quality care and minimize harm to the patient.
15. 15. Attends meetings, conferences and trainings related to continuous improvement.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of quality improvement concepts, methods and tools (e.g., PDSA, rapid cycle quality improvement, LEAN, Six Sigma and reliability principles) and change management experience. Knowledge of computer systems and applications. Knowledge of medical terminology, medical records and clinical care processes. Detailed understanding and experience using the techniques of system design, reengineering, reliability, quality improvement, process mapping, project management, data management and statistical analysis Experienced at using an evidence-based approach to facilitate multidisciplinary quality improvement work. Proficient in team development and facilitation techniques applied to project teams to achieve their highest potential. Experience in leading group processes and negotiation.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Clean, well-lit and comfortable climate Involves frequent contact with staff and others Subject to many interruptions Moderate noise environment Work may be stressful at times Subject to varying and unpredictable situations Subject to changes in work schedules and areas to meet customer/department needs

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

0% 35% 65% to to to 35% 65% 100% N/A Activity X Standing X Walking X Sitting X Bending X Reaching with arms X Finger and hand dexterity X Talking X Hearing X Seeing Lifting, carrying, pushing and or pulling: X 20 lbs. maximum X 50 lbs. maximum X 100 lbs. maximum