Title: Patient Safety & Quality Specialist

Department: Patient Safety & Quality

Hours of Work: Temporary Full-Time Position (Approximately 6 Months); Days

Salary: Class 06 - $95,642-$114,771

Union: Non-Union

Location: Kingston Health Sciences Centre Sites (Hybrid options available)

PRIMARY FUNCTION

Partners with all levels of KHSC to facilitate the development and implementation of quality improvement and patient safety initiatives in alignment with KHSC strategy; provide recommendations regarding patient safety, quality and risk mitigation; facilitate and/or perform assessments to identify improvement opportunities and their scope.

Actively promotes a ‘just culture’ of safety at KHSC that encourages all employees to proactively monitor the workplace and to participate in patient safety efforts; fosters risk awareness throughout the organization.

Builds organizational capacity for improvement through coaching and mentoring, and shares knowledge of patient safety principles, legislated standards and quality improvement methodology.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES INCLUDE:

1. Quality Improvement (QI): Provides quality improvement and change management leadership to leaders and staff. This includes:

• Facilitating and performing assessments to identify improvement opportunities and their scope using tools such as Value Stream Mapping, Gemba walks (observing processes at the front line), Prioritization matrices;
• Facilitating, monitoring and participating in the implementation of QI initiatives at various levels within KHSC;
• Developing and sharing standardized KHSC QI documents and tools;
• Ensuring improvements are aligned with KHSC strategy and priorities, legislation, professional standards and best practices.
• Implementing new processes and practices to maintain compliance with Accreditation Canada, patient safety standards and legislation changes.
• Participating in the ongoing development of quality frameworks and supports within KHSC e.g. KHSC Quality Roadmap, annual Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs), Accreditation sustainability plans, etc.

2. Incident Reporting/Analysis: Provides leadership, guidance and recommendations related to patient safety incident management at all levels of the organization.

• Researches and provides recommendations on the development of policy/procedures affecting patient safety and quality.
• Leads activities aimed at improving the culture of safety through coaching and mentoring at all levels of the organization.
• Identifies, analyzes and shares meaningful patient safety data with leaders and front-line staff to facilitate system improvements and practice changes.

3. Incident Investigations: Provides leadership and education for all processes pertaining to quality of care reviews (critical incident and program level reviews and requests stemming from coroner reviews) in accordance with legislative requirements, best practice and policy, e.g. determining actual level of patient harm, gathering pertinent facts, verifying that disclosure occurs, tracking implementation of recommendations through to completion, and documenting incident reviews in a central repository. Creates and shares status reports with program leaders and relevant committees, including the Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) and Board quality committee.

4. Collaborates with physicians, learners and other community partners within the region to develop and implement multi-organizational patient safety and quality improvement initiatives (e.g. Diagnostic Imaging project that involves Community Living managers). Ensures improvements are aligned with KHSC strategy and priorities, legislation, professional standards and best practices.

NOTE - The above duties are representative but are not to be construed as all-inclusive.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• University degree or equivalent in a related field
• Master’s degree in a related field (Preferred)
• Considerable position-related experience (minimum 3 – 5 years)
• Experience leading and guiding quality improvement initiatives in a healthcare setting. (Preferred)
• Sound knowledge of Quality Improvement (QI) Science and the ability to apply and transfer this knowledge to others
• Strong leadership skills, e.g. change management, conflict resolution, problem solving, and decision making
• Skilled at data analysis, interpretation, and report compilation;
• Highly developed verbal and written communication skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Power Point and Visio
• Time management and prioritization skills
• Certification in Quality Improvement methodology (e.g. Lean training, Advanced level IDEAS Program, Six Sigma) (Preferred)
• Completion of Patient Safety Certification, e.g. Canadian Patient Safety Officer (CPSI or HealthCare Can Learning), or through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement) (Preferred)
• Proven ability to attend work regularly.
• Satisfactory criminal reference check and vulnerable sector search required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The applicant must be able to meet the physical demands of this position.

KHSC is located on the ancestral lands and waters of the Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee and serves a wider geographical area that encompasses many Indigenous communities including Tyendinaga, Katarokwi, as well as communities within the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority. As we partner in care, discovery, and learning to achieve better health outcomes for our communities, KHSC is committed to actively advocating for and acting upon the Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s Calls to Action on Health.
 

Unless specifically stated, all job postings are for existing positions at KHSC.   KHSC is committed to recruitment practices that support and contribute to building a respectful, diverse and inclusive workplace in compliance with legislation such as the Employment Standards Act and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. We welcome all applications from women, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, persons in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and members of other equity deserving groups.
 

We thank all applicants, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Kingston Health Sciences Centre is committed to inclusive and accessible employment practices. If you require an accommodation to fully participate in the hiring process, please notify the Recruitment Team.