Department Overview

The Patient Safety Specialist provides leadership and expertise in the design andimplementation of the Patient Safety Plan and the daily operations of the Patient Safety and Clinical Risk Program. The Specialist utilizes knowledge of risk reduction strategies and performance improvement strategies to provide advanced internal consultation and coaching to senior leaders, managers, faculty and staff across the healthcare mission to evaluate preventable harm and identify and implement practices designed to reduce error, create realiable systems, mitiate risk, and improve patient outcomes. Specific duties include: clincal reviews of patient safety events; facilitating and managing case reviews, Root Cause Analyses, and Failure Mode, Effects, and Criticality Analyses; managing the event reporting system, including performing quantitative and qualilitative analyses of the event reports, and analyzing culture of safety survey results. The specialist also provides consultation and support to the continued maturation of the OHSU Quality Management department and OHSU Management System through their work as part of the Safety Oversight Committee.

Function/Duties of Position

Event Management

• Manage the event reporting system: read PSIs on daily basis to identify individual harm and system concerns, conduct further analysis and facilitate completion of investigations and action planning as appropriate.
• Share patient safety expertise to coach department leaders to investigate reported events that do not require investigation at a system level.
• Lead and complete Root Cause Analyses, Case Reviews, and Failure Mode Effects and Criticality Analyses to identify systems concerns and identify action planning to mitigate risks.
• Partner with Executive Leaders, Risk Management, Patient Advocates to review findings from preventable harm event reviews.
• Complete quality review for patient grievances received from the Patient Advocate Office and Insurance and other payors.
• Conduct on-going and focused analyses with patient safety incidents to help indentify priorities, improvement opportunities, trends, and improved performance.

Program Coordination

• Work with the Patient Safety Program Manager to implement the Patient Safety Plan.
• Serve as the facilitator with assigned projects and priority areas.
• Develop dashboards and reports for Clinical and Hospital Departments, Safety Oversight and OMS committee, Patient Safety Review Committee, and the Administrative Team.
• Extract data for internal/external reporting and provide data and analysis to Clinical and Hospital Departments, and Vizient PSO.

Facilitate and/or lead complex initiatives and systematic changes to meet internal and external quality/safety validation:

• Utilize external databases and resources (Vizient, PSO, Oregon Patient Safety Commission, The Joint Commission, DNV) to benchmark performance and idenitfy best/better practices
• Continuouly contribute to the effectivness of the OMS reporting process
• Stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the leaving safety iniativies relevant to OHSU.

Education and Consultation:

• Develop, revise and provide education and training on patient safety to faculty, staff and clinical leaders
• Provide expertise in the patient safety principles to support ongoing maturation of a culture of safety and just culture at OHSU
• Present patient safety data and information at department and hospital committee/department meetings and orientations as requested.

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing
• Master’s Degree or evidence of progression toward an advanced degree.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years recent clinical healthcare experience in a hospital setting.
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without accommodation

Job Related Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of quality improvement processes and tools.
• Systems knowledge and experience in identifying root causes and developing reliable and safe systems.
• Knowledge of statistical analysis and reporting practices pertinent to stable and high performing systems.
• Ability to effectively work with and communicate with staff in all levels of the organization.
• Expertise in presenting technical reports and leading group discussions with clinicians and administrators.
• Evidence within last 2 years of working with teams on quality or safety initatives.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in office automation computer software including the Microsoft Office Suite of products.

Preferred Qualifications

Certifications and/or Licenses:

• Current Oregon Nursing Licensure
• Certification in Healthcare Quality or Patient Safety

Experience:

• Experience that demonstrates expertise in knowledge of safety science.
• Hospital Acute Care, Critical Care, Surgery, or Medication Management Experience.

Job Related Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge and experience in Lean, Human Factors, Simulation, and Project Management
• Knowledge and experience with program evaluation, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and conductive focus groups.
• Knowledge of Staticial Process Control

Additional Details

Normal office environment. Generally, follows M-F 0800-1700 workweek with variability depending on

Clinical Department and project needs.

Pay Range: $67,454.40 - $107,764.80 annually

All are welcome

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.