Quality and Patient Safety Specialist
Permanent Full-Time position
Reporting to the Manager of Quality and Patient Safety, the Quality and Patient Safety Specialist is responsible to foster a Culture of Safety and High Reliability and adopt methods to identify and evaluate risks for harm with a focus on system improvement. The quality and patient safety specialist supports the design and implementation of the Quality and Patient Safety Framework, by engaging stakeholders in key activities across the organization. The specialist is responsible to facilitate quality improvement initiatives, conduct root cause analysis of patient safety events, support frontline leaders in the patient safety event review process, coordinate and engage programs in the preparation for the accreditation on site survey, and cultivate a positive and safe environment by role-modeling and promoting safe and high reliability practices.
Contribute to Patient Safety by:
• Ensure compliance with best practice, policies, applicable accreditation standards and key legislative requirements related to quality, patient safety, and risk (e.g. Excellent Care for All Act, Public Hospitals Act, Quality of Care Information Protection Act).
• Model behaviors and leading the adoption of high reliability organization (HRO) concepts into programs across the organization.
• Promote a fair & just culture, safety reporting, transparency, and openness to learning across all levels of the organization.
• Facilitate the interdisciplinary review of patient safety events through conducting a Root Cause Analysis and support the development and implementation of improvements.
• Proactively identify quality and patient safety opportunities through data trending and analysis.
• Apply human factors and high reliability principles into the organization’s patient safety systems and process redesigns.
• Serve as a resource to program leadership and advance quality and safety through facilitation, education and coaching of quality improvement methodologies, patient safety best practices and high reliability principles.
• Facilitate corporate multidisciplinary quality improvement initiatives in alignment with the organization’s strategic goals and engage providers and patients in partnership to improve the quality of care and service delivery.
• Guide improvement teams in the application of leading practices through rapid improvement cycles (e.g., lean six sigma, model for improvement, PDSA etc.).
• Drive the development of the annual Quality Improvement Plan and corporate quality, patient safety and HRO indicators.
• Prepare regular and timely reports related to quality and patient safety as required.
• Design, plan and deploy annual Patient Safety Week activities in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Conduct patient safety culture surveys and gap analysis to identify safe practice vulnerabilities.
• Provide oversight, guidance, and support programs through Qmentum Accreditation Canada surveys.
What must you have?
• Minimum of a four (4) year bachelor’s degree in a health related discipline from a recognized institution.
• Minimum of 5 years working experience in a healthcare setting.
• Minimum of 2 years working experience in quality, patient safety, risk management, accreditation, professional practice, incident review and project management.
• Master’s Degree in Quality Improvement, Patient Safety or Health Administration is preferred.
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) quality or patient safety certificate, Certified professional in Health Safety (CPPS), Certified Professional Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), Canadian Patient Safety Institute (CPSI) Officer certificate or equivalent is preferred.
• Lean Green and/or Black belt or equivalent preferred.
• Willingness to actively pursue certification in Quality or Patient Safety, if not already attained.
What else do you bring?
• Recent experience with project and change management.
• Experience and knowledge with Patient Safety and Quality projects or initiatives, electronic clinical incident management systems, performance measurement, data reporting analysis, quality improvement principles and Quality of Care Reviews.
• Well-developed public speaking abilities and exemplary written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to establish positive collaborative working relationships with all staff, physicians, clients, families, community agencies and other professionals while employing tact and diplomacy.
• Dynamic, innovative and creative leadership, especially in the development of, and delivery of, education material to adult learners; interpersonal and team building skills to engage staff.
• Proven organizational, problem solving, time management, prioritization, coordination, facilitation, and critical thinking abilities.
• Detail oriented, objective, and demonstrated commitment to just culture.
• Ability to handle challenging and sensitive situations with professionalism, empathy, tact, diplomacy, objectivity, and in discreet confidence.
• Highly computer literate, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Power Point, Excel, and Access).
• Proven attendance record.
• Demonstrates understanding and complies with patient and staff safety policies and procedures that foster a safe and inclusive environment for all.
• Models behaviour that is aligned with Mackenzie Health’s Commitment to Caring and the values of Mackenzie Health – Excellence, Leadership and Empathy.
• Commitment to providing an exceptional experience for staff and clients within a challenging and exciting health care environment.
*You may be required to work at any site of Mackenzie Health
FOR EXTERNAL APPLICANTS: As a condition of employment, you are required to submit proof of full COVID-19 vaccination to Mackenzie Health's Occupational Health and Safety department.