What are the responsibilities and job description for the Improvement Specialist - Patient Safety position at UPMC?
Job Title: Improvement Specialist
Location: UPMC Hamot
Shift: Monday–Friday | Day Shift (occasional weekends when needed)
UPMC Hamot, a Magnet-designated hospital, is seeking a full-time Improvement Specialist to join our Patient Safety team.
Title and salary will be determined based upon education and experience.
In this role, the Improvement Specialist will support and drive quality and performance improvement initiatives that align with the health system’s strategic goals and key quality metrics. This position collaborates with multidisciplinary teams across the organization to improve patient outcomes, enhance patient safety, and promote high-quality care delivery.
Key responsibilities include the development, implementation, and evaluation of performance improvement initiatives, analysis and review of trended quality data, and collaboration with departments across the organization in a positive, team-oriented environment. The Improvement Specialist will work closely with patient safety and quality teams to support continuous improvement and sustain high-quality outcomes throughout the organization.
Responsibilities:
- Effectively coordinate the assessment of new clinical design projects for implementation at facility or facilities as assigned.
- Conduct yearly assessment of operations/issues and utilizes data from other organizational assessments and surveys to contribute to and prioritize the establishment of quality, cost and service goals of the organization.
- Lead or co- facilitates teams created from the annual assessment and organizational goals.
- Assume a leadership role in the core clinical design team meetings and other key committees.
- Assume delegated leadership role/related duties as needed to support redesign efforts.
- Create a supportive environment in the department where redesign work is occurring that is sensitive to the issues and needs of that area.
- Assess developmental stage of work group and identifies strategies to meet achieve goals.
- Coach and advise team members collaboratively with their supervisor as needed to fulfill their role in a project team.
- Effectively communicate improvements that are made via verbal or written communication of clinical design activity to work teams, staff, managers and administrators throughout the organization and UPMC Health System.
- Ensure application of a tracking method to monitor progress towards goals and identifies the need for redesign of practice improvements targeted by the clinical design initiative.
- Collect and present accurate, timely data to display the results of process improvement efforts.
- When assigned, complete special projects and performs other related duties according to agreed upon goals and parameters.
- Utilize cost effective approaches when planning team activity.
- Ensure that clinical design projects maintain patient care as the center of the work.
- Influence staff acceptance of recommended practice changes by articulating the contribution to clinical improvements established patient care goals.
- Seek out and integrates cost saving opportunities into clinical practice changes.
- Consult with essential stakeholders such as administrative and medical staff leaders, department heads and critical committees as appropriate to finalize and advance the project goals.
- Establish and maintain positive working relationships with staff, medical staff leaders and other support areas.
- Elicit input and advisement in areas where clinical design project work is occurring.
- Form a partnership with the director of the project area, facilitate work activities and negotiate additional support as needed.
- Role models appropriate and effective methods for data analysis, problem solving, communication negotiation and persuasion skills.
- Maintain accountability for ongoing self-development activities, especially related to presentation facilitation, change management and application of quality improvement activities.
- Provide mentorship for individuals at the department/unit/team level.
- Participate in professional organization activities to enhance personal growth and cultivate relationships in the field at a regional and national level.
- Communicate clinical design efforts and accomplishments via formal presentations and or publications at local, regions and national forums when available.