Quality Improvement Specialist - 132883

The Quality Improvement Specialist (QIS) is a key resource in overseeing patient safety operational activities, projects, and initiatives across the organization. Tasked with developing and refining safety protocols, the QIS enhances patient safety by meticulously analyzing data related to adverse events to spot trends and implement preventive measures. This role involves leading or participating in large-scale or complex projects, with a focus on safeguarding patients from preventable harm. Holding clinical licensure, the QIS provides expert analysis on significant events and is responsible for training healthcare professionals in best practices to maintain and elevate safety standards.

The Specialist will proactively identify potential safety risks, investigate incidents, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to promote a safety-first culture. Conducting detailed Root Cause Analyses (RCAs) on significant events to understand underlying issues and drive systemic improvements forms a significant part of the duties. Engaging in the medical peer review process to evaluate clinical care and ensure it meets the highest standards is essential.

The Quality Improvement Specialist plays a crucial role in ensuring the highest standards of patient safety and is key to preventing harm and fostering a culture of safety within the healthcare system. This highly visible position demands effective and professional communication with physician leaders across the organization. The specialist must possess a strong proficiency in Microsoft Office tools, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, to create impactful presentations and detailed reports for director-level and above leaders. This role requires a unique blend of clinical knowledge, analytical acumen, and exceptional communication skills, including the ability to present data and analyses clearly and persuasively. Tact, diplomacy, and confidence are essential in delivering presentations and interacting with key stakeholders, ensuring that safety protocols and improvements are communicated effectively.

• Bachelor's Degree in nursing (BSN) or other health discipline. Or a combination of comparable clinical education and/or experience.

• Three (3) years or more of relevant clinical experience or licensed clinician in the State of California.

• Thorough knowledge of QI standards, clinical chart review and abstraction, and regulatory requirements.

• Thorough knowledge of QI models, measurement tools, and techniques, including collection, aggregation, abstraction, validation, analysis, and reporting of data.

• Detail oriented, with proven ability to effectively manage time, see projects through to completion, organize competing priorities, and effectively address complex, urgent issues as they arise.

• Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills to manage multiple levels of information and responsibilities, to quickly assess complex problems, and to develop and implement timely and effective solutions.

• Strong interpersonal skills for collaborating effectively with a broad range of clinical and technical staff and representatives of external regulatory agencies and for mentoring lower-level QI staff.

• Strong skills required to effectively convey complex clinical and technical information both verbally and in writing and to produce high quality reports and documentation.

• Strong knowledge of various administrative and business software packages, and of the specialized applications for quality data management.

• Strong skills to influence staff, management, and clinicians at all levels and across departments.

• MSN or Master's Degree in a health-related field.

• Five (5+) or more years of relevant clinical experience.

• In-depth knowledge of QI models, tools, and techniques, including collection, abstraction,validation, analysis, reporting of data, and use of performance and benchmark indicators.

• Advanced organizational and project management skills, with the ability to lead a team, prioritize tasks, and see projects through from inception to completion on schedule.

• Advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills to manage multiple levels of highly complex information and responsibilities, to quickly assess problems, and to develop and implement timely and effective solutions.

• Advanced skills with cross-departmental leadership to influence staff, management, and clinicians at all levels and across departments.

• Experience with RL Datix

• Lean Six Sigma training and experience.

• Experience with Epic.

• Experience managing Medical Staff Committees.

• Experience with medical record review and data abstraction.

• Expertise in the development and implementation of complex projects, including multidisciplinary teams, to facilitate change throughout the health system.

• Experience with chart review, including the creation and presentation of case summaries that identify system issues and the development and implementation of action plans.

• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.

• To be eligible for the Quality Improvement HC Specialist IV, the selected candidate must have a Bachelor's degree in a health-related field, and demonstrated five (5+) or more years of extensive experience, proven success, and in-depth knowledge of QI standards, clinical chart review and abstraction, and regulatory requirements.

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

If applicable, life-support certifications (BLS, NRP, ACLS, etc.) must include hands-on practice and in-person skills assessment; online-only certification is not acceptable.

UC San Diego Health is the only academic health system in the San Diego region, providing leading-edge care in patient care, biomedical research, education, and community service. Our facilities include two university hospitals, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, the only Burn Center in the county, and and dozens of outpatient clinics. We invite you to join our team!

Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.

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UC San Diego is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.

For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20
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