Patient Safety Specialist

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

The Patient Safety Specialist will support the NGPG Patient Safety & Risk Management programs by monitoring compliance with established patient safety initiatives, risk management programs, and patient variance processes. The Specialist will monitor trends, conduct investigations and complete audits to support embedding of patient safety behaviors, risk management principles, reducing patient variances, provider documentation compliance, patient dismissal process, and key privacy and compliance requirements (on request). In addition, the Specialist will generate ongoing reports and communicate compliance rates with providers and practice administrators. The Patient Safety Specialist will also provide training to staff and providers related to risk management, patient safety, and HIPAA/compliance review assistance (when authorized).

• Licensure or other certifications: Certified Medical Assistant, LPN, or other similar clinical licensure or Certified Professional In Healthcare Risk Management (CPHRM), Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), or Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS), or obtained within 1 year of hire

• Educational Requirements: High School Diploma

• Minimum Experience: Minimum of three (3) years' experience in a healthcare setting

• Other: Must have valid driver's license and have reliable transportation and ability to travel independently to NGHS service area sites and practices.

• Preferred Licensure or other certifications: Certification in Lean Six Sigma and/or project management preferred

• Preferred Educational Requirements: Bachelors Degree

• Preferred Experience: Ambulatory care setting. Experience in medical staff management, compliance, patient safety and/or risk management preferred. Experience in group practice and other complex healthcare organizations

• Other:

• High energy and ability to function effectively in a dynamic work environment

• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills; able to work effectively in a team environment

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to review reports and complete data validation

• Demonstrated expertise with Microsoft Excel and reporting databases

• Under the supervision of the of Patient Safety Manager, conducts risk management, patient safety, and privacy/compliance (when authorized) investigations related to patient variances to include chart reviews, interviews with involved staff and providers, and communicating with patients to reach an appropriate resolution. Builds and maintains trusting, collaborative relationships during these processes.

• Assists the Patient Safety Manager in the review of risk variances in the RL system. Notifies leadership of significant events.

• Manages the documentation of patient variances through resolution in NGPG's electronic feedback system.

• Monitors, manages, and reports on provider timely completion of required documentation.

• Ensures compliance with organizational policies and accreditation/regulatory requirements by performing chart abstractions, and audits; conducts documentation reviews to support identified credentialing functions (i.e., unsigned notes, FPPE/OPPE).

• Recognizes and engages other departments and/or NGHS functions that may have shared responsibility for an event (e.g., legal, operations, compliance, privacy, complaints).

• Coordinates schedules of involved staff and/or providers to assure timely investigations; reviews and assembles required documentation, polices and standards of care; develops timelines; works with practices to adhere to timeline and meet reporting deadlines to ensure timely completion of tasks.

• Maintains awareness of potentially compensable events and refers to the Patient Safety Manager and the NGHS claims staff in a timely manner.

• Conducts investigations in a respectful manner, coaching staff and providing ongoing education when indicated in a way that mirrors awareness and acceptance of Error Prevention Tools (EPT).

• Develops and facilitates, in conjunction with the Patient Safety Manager, educational programs, job aids and training sessions for practice staff relating to risk management, patient safety, privacy and compliance for the ambulatory setting of care.

• In collaboration with the Patient Safety Manager, makes recommendations and assists in the development of communication and education tools in support of improving awareness of risk management principles, regulatory requirements, policy compliance and evidence-based standards of care for the ambulatory care setting; offers suggestions to improve polices and ambulatory standards of care.

• Identifies and provides information that is pertinent to the development and revision of risk management and patient safety initiatives, and the reduction of patient complaints.

• Manages, documents, and processes the NGPG patient dismissal process in accordance with NGPG policy; makes recommendations for process improvement.

• Supports the NGPG Quality & Patient Safety Council Meetings by recommending agenda items as appropriate.

• Possesses understanding of emerging initiatives and compliance standards for risk, patient safety, privacy, compliance and accreditation programs when applicable (i.e., ASHRM, IHI, NCQA, TJC, AAPC, AHRQ); seeks ongoing educational opportunities.

• Other duties as assigned.

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

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

• Vision: Heavy, 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.