SHIFT:  Exempt - 40 hours per week, days

The Patient Safety and Accreditation Specialist maintains oversight and provides leadership for the overall patient safety and accreditation programs within the organization. This includes oversight of patient safety events, data driven patient safety initiatives, and developing and implementing the annual patient safety plan. This role provides direction and support of the accreditation program for Grinnell.  This role has responsibility for developing and implementing a coordinated, proactive approach for the organization to ensure continued survey readiness and successful accreditation survey processes.  This role requires collaboration with all areas involved with direct or indirect patient care, including patient care departments, patient experience, legal, risk, case management, clinical informatics, process improvement, infection prevention, education, and others. This role requires excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to foster positive professional relationships with peers, physicians, and other members of the leadership team.

At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.  

Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in.  Here are just a few:      

• Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.   

• Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.  

• Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.   

With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.   

And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience. 

Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

Develop and Implement a Data Driven Patient Safety Strategy:

• Develop, implement, and oversee an organizational annual patient safety plan
• Identify key metrics and targets to promote and support patient safety which align with the UPH system-wide strategy and key performance indicators
• Prioritize and support patient safety initiatives throughout the organization
• Communicate patient safety strategies, initiatives, and progress to key stakeholders in the organization
• Provide education to key stakeholders regarding the patient safety program
• Lead the organization in developing and sustaining high reliability and an elevated culture of safety
• Facilitate and implement a standardized approach to investigate and address patient safety events, Never Events, and Sentinel Events
• Identify trends that may trigger unsafe practices or events
• Prepare and recommend policies, systems, and processes to improve and maintain patient safety
• Collaborate with Risk Management and other departments and leaders to proactively reduce the risk of patient harm
• Promote and model a culture of safety that is non-punitive
• Facilitate organizational change
• Supports Just Culture within the organization in conjunction with department and senior leaders

Develop and Implement an Accreditation Strategy for Continuous Survey Readiness:

• Proactively seek knowledge of current, new, and revised accreditation standards and regulatory requirements to ensure organizational readiness
• Develop and implement continuous survey readiness activities throughout the organization
• Develop comprehensive plan for full survey activities including coordination of accreditation survey, survey team, and documents
• Lead organizational accreditation and communicates, collaborates with quality program
• Perform, evaluate, and report progress related to continuous readiness and survey activities
• Facilitate implementation and maintenance of compliance with National Patient Safety Goals in collaboration with organizational leaders
• Oversee follow-up on survey findings including action plans and ongoing progress

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in nursing, health administration, or other related field required.
• Master's degree in nursing, health administration, or other related field preferred.

Experience:

• Three years' experience in health care or patient safety and accreditation role required.
• Familiar with basic concepts related to patient safety, high reliability, and accreditation required.
• Experience working with DNV, JCAHO, HFAP, or specialty accreditation preferred.

Licesure/Certification:

• Certification related to patient safety, quality, or accreditation preferred: CPPS, CPHQ

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Familiar with Federal and State laws and regulations, accreditation standards, and CMS Conditions and Participation required.
• Proven leaderhship ability required.
• Excellent verbal and written skills.
• Advanced interpersonal communication skills to provide effective consultation and collaboration.
• Ability to organize and define problems, develope strategies, and carry out action plans.
• Analytical skills to interpret trends and analyze data.
• Capable of exercising sound judgement and making independent decisions.
• Ability to adapt to a complex organiztional envirnoment.
• Use of usual and customary equipment used to perform essential functions of the position.