At Memorial Hermann, we pursue a common goal of delivering high quality, efficient care while creating exceptional experiences for every member of our community. When we say every member of our community, that includes our employees. We know that when our employees feel cared for, heard and valued, they are inspired to create moments that exceed expectations, while prioritizing safety, compassion, personalization and efficiency. If you want to advance your career and contribute to our vision of creating healthier communities, now and for generations to come, we want you to be a part of our team.

Job Summary

The Patient Safety Specialist will coordinate the patient safety programs within a hospital. The Patient Safety Specialist will work collaboratively with other enterprise, regional and hospital patient safety specialists. The Patient Safety Specialist will identify methods for reduction of medical/health care errors and other factors that contribute to unintended adverse outcomes. The Patient Safety Specialist will facilitate safety assessments and coordinate the activities of the patient safety committees, educate physicians, nurses, and other practitioners on the system-based causes for medical error. The Patient Safety Specialist will communicate literature-based ideas regarding effective patient safety strategies to others within the hospital and facilitate implementation of the patient safety program within the hospital. The Patient Safety Specialist assists in the development of and implementation of Patient Safety improvement projects within the hospital while working in conjunction with physicians, directors and clinical staff. The Patient Safety Specialist supports the collection, analysis and reporting of patient safety and financial data in relation to cost containment, performance improvement and patient safety. The Patient Safety Specialist promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, fosters team work and champions service excellence.

Job Description

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelors degree or above in nursing, pharmacy, or related healthcare area

Licenses/ Certifications: CPHRM, CPHQ, and/or CPSO Certification preferred

Experience / Knowledge / Skills:

• Five (5) years in Healthcare setting, with two years’ experience in quality, risk, patient safety activities, or clinical role (i.e. LVN, RN, Radiology Technologist, Respiratory Technologist, PT, OT, PTA, etc.)

• Leadership capabilities

• Effective written, verbal and presentation skills

• Proficient in event analysis methodologies

• Knowledge of high reliability methodology

• Experience in healthcare/clinical education

Principal Accountabilities

• Conduct the investigation, summary reporting, data analysis, response planning, implementation and follow-up of all events of harm root cause analyses within a hospital.

• Conduct periodic Common Cause Analyses of individual and system failure mode data within a hospital.

• Educate and coach hospital staff in conducting Apparent Cause Analyses on precursor and potentially near miss events.

• Participate in and coordinate comprehensive hospital data collection pertaining to patient safety to meet national, state, regional and internal measures.

• Direct activity to meet Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals, including education, monitoring, updating, and policy and procedure compliance. 

• Coordinate the Patient Safety Climate survey within a hospital. 

• Contribute to short term and long term robust process improvement projects to continuously improve patient safety. 

• Facilitate and further develop safety coaches within the hospital. 

• Educate and reinforce hospital staff in the Breakthroughs in Patient Safety and high reliability behavioral based expectations. 

• Conduct Failure Modes and Effects Analyses on patient safety processes. 

• Participate in collecting accurate data pertaining to patient safety indicator and hospital acquired condition measures. 

• Sharing of best practices to allow for System-wide learning. 

• Collaborate with enterprise quality and patient safety program, in particular the patient safety function, to share knowledge leading to better outcomes.

• Ensures safe care to patients, staff and visitors; adheres to all Memorial Hermann policies, procedures, and standards within budgetary specifications including time management, supply management, productivity and quality of service.

• Promotes individual professional growth and development by meeting requirements for mandatory/continuing education and skills competency; supports department-based goals which contribute to the success of the organization; serves as preceptor, mentor and resource to less experienced staff.

• Demonstrates commitment to caring for every member of our community by creating compassionate and personalized experiences. Models Memorial Hermann’s service standards by providing safe, caring, personalized and efficient experiences to patients and colleagues.

• Other duties as assigned.