Safety & Quality Specialist (Emergency Services)

Safety & Quality Specialist (Emergency Services)

Hiring Department: Hospital Emergency Services

Location: Chicago, IL USA

Requisition ID: 1017950

Posting Close Date: 5/25/2023

About the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health)

The University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health) provides comprehensive care, education, and research to the people of Illinois and beyond. A part of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), UI Health comprises a clinical enterprise that includes a 495-bed tertiary care hospital, 22 outpatient clinics, and 13 Mile Square Health Center facilities, which are Federally Qualified Health Centers. It also includes the seven UIC health science colleges: the College of Applied Health Sciences; the College of Dentistry; the School of Public Health; the Jane Addams College of Social Work; and the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing, including regional campuses in Peoria, Quad Cities, Rockford, Springfield, and Urbana. UI Health is dedicated to the pursuit of health equity.

Position Summary

The primary responsibility of the Safety & Quality Specialist is to promote safe care for patients receiving care in the assigned strategic service line or clinical program, keeping patient safety and clinical quality outcomes as a focus in all service line/program operations and clinical practice. Facilitates adherence to national practitioner and nursing clinical standards and promotes service line/program safety and quality. Provides formal and informal quality and safety education. Actively leads or participates in quality and safety committee meetings and related initiatives. Proactively liaises with Risk Management & Patient Safety and Quality & Performance Improvement regarding safety issues identification, adverse events, and service line/program quality and safety performance improvement initiatives. Provides regular updates to the Chief Quality Officer through the Health System Quality Committee. Ensures all quality and safety approaches, tools, and practices are consistent w
Duties & Responsibilities

• Prepares periodic progress reports to leadership and, identifies barriers, develops action plans and issues requiring escalation for resolution.
• A(n) Quality Specialist typically -
• An employee at this level under the general supervision of higher level personnel and is responsible for Continuous Quality Improvement via consultation, data management and quality advisor functions. The Quality Specialist develops and implements improvement plans at the unit, division, or organizational level based on review and analysis of complex data provided by the staff, as well as from additional sources, including qualitative surveys, quantitative audits and evidence-based best practices and literature reviews.
• Establishes measures to monitor performance in healthcare delivery or services. Develops performance feedback mechanisms that address process and behavior as part of improvement efforts.
• Assists with educating team members in the application of the Model for Improvement, coordinating QI team efforts and assisting team leads with optimizing team dynamics. Performs related duties as assigned.
• Participates in the design of audits to measure compliance of clinical practice/operations, utilizing appropriate sampling methodologies.
• Assists with coaching teams on how to conduct rapid tests of change to evaluate the effectiveness of implemented changes in practice or protocol.
• Educates clinical staff regarding national quality measure standards and algorithms to improve performance, drawing from evidenced-based practice and the literature.
• Observes clinical and operational workflow practices to identify gaps in performance deviating from best practices, utilizing appropriate QI tools.
• Collaborates with clinicians, health system administrators/staff to design workflows which promote best practices.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree as required by the position to be filled in the area of specialization inherent in the position may be required.
• One (1) year (12 months) of Quality Improvement work experience in a clinical or healthcare related field.

• Exceptional communication (written and verbal) skills, including ability to interact with a variety of stakeholders and audiences at all levels within the organization
• Possesses strong problem-solving skills and a high level of attention to detail.
• Highly organized, able to prioritize multiple assignments, and manage time effectively
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned
• Advanced knowledge of process improvement methodologies, - IHI Model for Improvement, Lean/Six Sigma, DMAIC or Focus PDCA, benchmarking, and auditing. Working knowledge of statistics and process control. Certifications in quality, process improvement and/or project management preferred.
• Prior experience with leading performance improvement of CMS reported clinical quality and safety measures preferred. Knowledge of common hospital regulatory standards preferred.
• Advanced skills required in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• 5 to 7 years of progressive experience in an academic medical center, hospital, or clinic leading multiple performance improvement initiatives.
• Able to operate independently and collaborate with stakeholders
• Excellent work and attendance history.
• Direct experience in project leadership capacity with emphasis on group facilitation, root cause investigation, auditing, and implementation planning/execution.
• Strong foundational knowledge of evaluating data sets for integrity, comprehensiveness, and scope.
• Ability to plan and manage projects within scope, budget, and required timelines.
• A Master’s degree in Nursing or healthcare administration or related field is preferred..
• Illinois Registered Nursing license preferred. Clinical experience and/or certifications related to care in the Emergency Department setting preferred.

This is a full-time and benefits eligible position. UI Health offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience. In addition all full time benefits eligible positions include a comprehensive benefits package which include; Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability & AD&D insurance, a defined benefit pension plan as well as paid leave which includes; Vacation, Holiday and Sick. In addition we offer tuition waivers for employees and dependents. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits

To Apply: For fullest consideration click on the Apply Now button, please fully complete all sections of the online application including adding your full work history with specific details of your duties & responsibilities for each position held. Fully complete the education, licensure, certification and language sections. You may upload a resume, cover letter, certifications, licensures, transcripts and diplomas within the application.

Please note that once you have submitted your application you will not be able to make any changes. In order to revise your application you must withdraw and reapply. You will not be able to reapply after the posting close date. Please ensure the application is fully completed and all supporting documents have been uploaded before the posting close date.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, COVID-19 vaccination requirement, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation