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Northeast Georgia Health System is rooted in a foundation of improving the health of our communities.

About the Role:

Job Summary

The Director of Patient Safety will work collaboratively with the Chief of Operational Excellence and the Medical Director of Patient Safety to advance a patient safety program that promotes a culture of safety and the elimination of preventable harm for the entities of Northeast Georgia Health System. This position provides leadership in developing a culture of safety and in identifying opportunities and initiatives to enhance patient safety for the hospitals in the system. This will include monitoring and distribution of patient safety metrics and other key data, providing data review and analysis, and partnering with hospital leadership to align data with the strategic plan. A primary focus of the position will be oversight of the comprehensive patient safety program, to include patient safety event management, root cause analysis and facilitation of effective, timely action plans. He/She shall be responsible, in conjunction with the Chief of Operational Excellence and the Medical Director of Patient Safety, for ensuring that the requirements of a High Reliability Organization are determined, implemented, and maintained for Northeast Georgia Health System.

Minimum Job Qualifications

• Licensure or other certifications:

• Educational Requirements: Bachelors Degree.

• Minimum Experience: Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in a hospital environment, including experience in management and experience working in patient safety and performance improvement/quality.

• Other:

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Preferred Licensure or other certifications: Current, unrestricted license to practice in GA (GA licensure or multi-state [compact] license).

• Preferred Educational Requirements: Master Healthcare Administration, Business Administration or Organization Leadership.

• Preferred Experience:

• Other:

Job Specific and Unique Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Strong organizational skills

• Excellent interpersonal and facilitation skills

• Knowledge of patient safety and high reliability organization principles, theory, and methods.

• Knowledge of and experience with patient safety analysis techniques (methods), including root cause analysis, cause and effect analysis, and failure mode and effect analysis
  

Essential Tasks and Responsibilities

• Maintains oversight and responsibility for the patient safety programs for all NGHS entities.

• With the Medical Director, serves as a subject matter expert for patient safety, maintaining an active understanding of current thinking and innovative programs regarding patient safety both locally and nationally. Monitors CMS, QHIP, NDNQI, and Leapfrog data and trends and all applicable state and federal requirements.

• Clearly defines patient safety, including the behavioral changes necessary to achieve cultural transformation to enable NGHS to become a high reliability organization.

• Develops and deploys real-time and trended patient safety reports intended to target a specific audience (department, practice, or unit). Oversees the extraction of data from the electronic health record and other data sources as necessary.

• Identifies and presents key issues impacting patient safety for Senior Leadership discussion and decision making, which will include findings, barriers to success, and progress toward results. Assesses and makes recommendations to appropriate committees and task forces of any changes needed.

• Documents and communicates throughout NGHS the shared vision for patient safety improvements. Develops the framework and protocols in which all patient safety initiatives will be deployed. Consistently measures results.

• In coordination with Organizational Development, oversees the development of training for leaders, physicians, and staff in best practices for patient safety.

• Oversees the management and use of event information to benchmark and track progress to zero preventable harm for all NGHS entities.

• Encourages utilization of PMDG for NGHS entities.

• Promotes and supports professional growth and development of staff, and facilitates participation in PSO learning collaboratives.

• Provides outstanding service to all customers, fosters teamwork, and practices fiscal responsibility.

• Hires, disciplines, trains, and develops staff; conducts performance evaluations for assigned staff.

• Develops and monitors the operating budget for the patient safety department.

• Develops, initiates, maintains, and revises policies for the general operation of the Patient Safety department.
  

Physical Demands

• Weight Lifted: Up to 20 lbs, Occasionally 0-30% of time

• Weight Carried: Up to 20 lbs, Occasionally 0-30% of time

• Vision: Moderate, Constantly 66-100% of time

• Kneeling/Stooping/Bending: Occasionally 0-30%

• Standing/Walking: Occasionally 0-30%

• Pushing/Pulling: Occasionally 0-30%

• Intensity of Work: Frequently 31-65%

• Job Requires: Reading, Writing, Reasoning, Talking, Keyboarding

Working at NGHS means being part of something special: a team invested in you as a person, an employee, and in helping you reach your goals.

NGHS: Opportunities start here.

Northeast Georgia Health System is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not tolerate discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, disability, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected classification or status.