DHA Patient Safety Specialist

Position Overview

The Patient Safety Specialist (PSS) serves as the facility lead for the Defense Health Agency (DHA) Patient Safety Program within a Military Treatment Facility (MTF). This role partners with executive leadership, clinical staff, and support departments to promote a culture of safety, reduce patient harm, improve healthcare processes, and ensure compliance with DHA, DoW, and Joint Commission patient safety requirements.

Key ResponsibilitiesPatient Safety Program Leadership

• Manage and coordinate the facility's Patient Safety Program.
• Serve as the Patient Safety Subject Matter Expert (SME).
• Advise leadership on patient safety risks, trends, recommend and facilitate improvement opportunities.
• Support strategic patient safety and high reliability initiatives.
  
  

Risk Management & Event Investigation

• Conduct Proactive Risk Assessments (PRAs) and Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (FMEAs).
• Monitor, review, and analyze patient safety events and near misses.
• Lead Comprehensive Systematic Analyses (CSAs) and Root Cause Analyses (RCAs).
• Recommend corrective actions to prevent recurrence of adverse events.
  
  

Education & Training

• Develop and deliver patient safety education programs.
• Train staff on patient safety principles, risk reporting, and National Patient Safety Goals.
• Support TeamSTEPPS and teamwork training initiatives.
• Coach leaders and staff on safety behaviors and reliable healthcare practices.
  
  

Quality Improvement & Data Analysis

• Collect, analyze, and report patient safety data and performance metrics.
• Identify trends and improvement opportunities across the organization.
• Support quality improvement and process improvement projects.
• Prepare monthly executive reports for facility leadership.
  
  

Collaboration & Compliance

• Partner with Quality Management, Risk Management, Process Improvement, Nursing, Medical Staff, and other departments.
• Support implementation and monitoring of Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals.
• Ensure compliance with DHA, DoW, and Air Force patient safety regulations.
• Participate in executive committees and multidisciplinary workgroups.
  
  

Key Deliverables

• Facilitywide Patient Safety Program oversight.
• Risk assessments, FMEAs, PRAs, and event investigations.
• Staff education and patient safety training programs.
• Patient safety metrics, trend analysis, and executive reporting.
• Corrective action plans and process improvement recommendations.
• Annual assessment of patient safety activities and program effectiveness.
  
  

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