Sr Quality Outcomes Specialist

JOB SUMMARY

At Houston Methodist, the Senior Quality Outcomes Specialist position is responsible for assessing and facilitating clinical systems and/or processes to ensure that care delivered is safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient and equitable. This position identifies outcomes variances, taking initiative for timely resolution of potential concerns, and utilizes ability to synthesize an analysis of complex systems, developing and implementing solutions to improve complex processes and goals. Other responsibilities include supporting and promoting the organization-wide clinical performance improvement/patient safety program and culture; and serving as departmental expert for areas of expertise, sharing knowledge, effective tools and educational materials as appropriate. Additionally, this position serves as a resource and expert in performance improvement methodologies to clinical staff; conducts educational offerings to support training, mentoring, and precepting of team members; and conducts review, analysis, and integration of data in workflow design to support team, departmental and organizational mission and goals.

PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Job responsibilities labeled EF capture those duties that are essential functions of the job.

PEOPLE - 25%

1. Promotes organization-wide understanding of overall quality and patient safety program and culture. Serves as an expert resource to all levels of the organization regarding quality improvement activities. (EF)
2. Proactively and effectively develops and maintains collaborative relationships with physicians, hospital leaders and staff. Serves as operational liaison to physicians and staff to support Care Management Performance Improvement (CMPI)/Project goals. (EF)
3. Facilitates a multidisciplinary approach to improve clinical processes and outcomes. Makes recommendations to key leadership for team strategies to achieve desired outcomes. (EF)
4. Serves as a lead resource and mentor for other Quality Outcome Specialists. May assist in creating and reviewing project designs. (EF)

SERVICE - 20%

1. Serves as a key quality contact with leadership, managers and staff responsible for the execution of corrective actions initiatives/projects and compliance with customer requirements. (EF)
2. Supports leadership with the development and implementation of patient safety and process improvement changes. Makes recommendations for unit-based process change initiatives. (EF)

QUALITY/SAFETY - 35%

1. Facilitates timely and effective resolutions of patient care process issues. Uses performance improvement methodologies in the development of performance improvement/patient safety initiatives and coordinates teams as needed to drive change towards desired outcomes. Monitors compliance with clinical protocols, pathways and evidence-based care along the continuum for various hospital patient populations. (EF)
2. Facilitates a multi-disciplinary approach to improve clinical process and outcomes. Monitors and evaluates clinical performance of CMPI and Project efforts using defined metrics and desired outcomes. Makes recommendations to key leadership for team strategies to achieve desired outcomes. (EF)
3. Abstracts pertinent information and enters into department databases using standardized methods and processes. Routinely performs discrepancy management activities to maintain data integrity. Presents meaningful reports and analysis with measurement description, statistical information, and benchmarking information. Monitors trends and provides feedback. Creates and presents executive summaries as needed to various audiences to drive change. (EF)
4. Supports improvement efforts for potential or actual quality of care issues including participation/facilitation of Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Failure Modes Effects Analysis (FMEA), Critical Incident Review (CIR) or event review as needed. Supports leadership and staff with the development and implementation of process changes. Conducts evaluation of effectiveness of initiatives and presents findings as needed. Facilitates systems’ design to hardwire patient safety processes. (EF)

FINANCE - 5%

1. Facilitates performance improvement projects/initiatives to improve outcomes, ultimately impacting hospital finances. (EF)

GROWTH/INNOVATION - 15%

1. Identifies and recommends opportunities for improvement in accordance with hospital leadership. (EF)
2. Assists in the development of long-term tactics and strategies to improve operational processes. (EF)
3. Analyzes and assesses present and future needs, trends, challenges, and opportunities related to hospital processes and operations. (EF)

This job description is not intended to be all inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

o Bachelor’s degree in nursing

o Master’s degree preferred

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

o Four years of experience in direct patient care activities in a hospital setting

o Three years of experience in Hospital Quality Improvement

o Two years of progressive leadership experience