The Patient Safety Officer (PSO) is responsible for the development and oversight of the organization’s. Patient Safety program and its associated initiatives. The PSO serves as the point of contact and liaison with internal and external stakeholders on patient safety issues. The PSO works to minimize incidents that may impact the safety and wellbeing of patients, staff, contractors, and visitors. 

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE: Healthcare quality/patient safety or clinical experience required. Hospital regulatory expertise (CMS, DNV GL, or other hospital regulatory body) required and Health Care Quality Improvement experience preferred, with emphasis in data collection, performance improvement initiatives, patient safety initiatives, accreditation activities, risk management, or patient relations. The incumbent must possess the ability to lead groups and facilitate meetings. Leadership and management skill is essential to be successful in this position. 

 

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s required, certification in a patient safety discipline preferred either at hire or 24 months after hire.

 

LICENSE/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRY/additional qualifications:  Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) within 24 months of hire

Attributes:

*Demonstrated ability to work with difficult issues on a regular basis and maintain a healthy perspective, such as risk management and patient safety, where harm may have occurred:  focusing on the need to change processes and embracing the concept of a fair and just culture.

*Demonstrated ability to manage results in key areas such as clinical quality, service excellence, people management, and financial management.

*Demonstrated ability to create an environment of mutual trust, respect and effective two-way communication with all disciplines.

*Demonstrated ability to build team spirit and excitement.

*Demonstrated ability to actively pursue positive change, both personally and organizationally.  Demonstrated ability to adapt to change.

*Demonstrated willingness to serve key constituents, including patients, coworkers, physicians, the community, and the organization and to exceed customer expectations as a consultant. 

*Demonstrated ability to work in interdisciplinary team for the benefit of the organization as a whole.

*Demonstrated ability to control limited healthcare resources by effectively managing the organization's human, financial, technological, and other key resources.

*Demonstrates integrity by actions that are consistent with what she/he says, communicating ideas openly and directly, and welcoming openness and honesty from others.

*Demonstrated ability and commitment to foster the growth and development of others.  This includes the ability to be direct and clear; providing tools and assistance, while ensuring organizational leaders develop performance improvement skills to ensure organizational spread.

*Demonstrated ability to create a shared mission and vision and to effectively direct the activities of individuals and groups towards the accomplishment of established goals.

*Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing.

*Demonstrated ability to manage multiple and conflicting priorities, stressors, deadlines, difficult situations and/or customers effectively.

*Demonstrated ability to hire, retain, develop, and promote talented people and build team spirit.

*Conceptualize, develop and execute strategies, goals and objectives which have potential impact across the system, an individual organization or department.

The professional in this job is responsible for:

Patient Safety:

Responsible for conducting and coordinating multiple performance improvement functions that foster quality improvement, patient safety, early intervention for potential risk management concerns, and accreditation requirements for the St. Peter’s Health system.Works in close collaboration with Risk Manager to develop structures, processes and policies to assure organizational compliance with accreditation standards, federal and state laws and regulations, and internal requirements relating to patient safety management.Must utilize clinical knowledge and expertise to engage provider (physician and mid levels and nurse collaboration in clinical and process improvement initiatives. Utilize clinical knowledge to facilitate and guide meaningful data analysis to positively impact patient safety and clinical qualityDevelops effective methods for reporting of patient safety events and close calls. Develops key networking relationships. Identifies and develops responses to patient safety trends, based on review of data management system information and national patient safety goals.Assists departments in minimizing, avoiding, and mitigating preventable error.Facilitate Root Cause Analysis and de-brief events focused on identifying system weaknesses and ensure appropriate and timely follow-up is completedActively participates in safety culture work and helps facilitate improvementsProvides consultation and training on patient safety concepts, safety event analysis, error avoidance and mitigation, and implementation of safe practicesOther duties as assigned.

Accreditation Program Management:

Provides expertise regarding accreditation and licensure standards. Identify, plan for, communicate, monitor and evaluate actions to comply with existing and new regulations, standards and accreditation requirements.Provides leadership for preparation and readiness for regulatory and accreditation surveys.Serves as the patient safety liaison to regulatory agencies and accreditation bodies.Provides consultation to all departments on the interpretation and application of DNV GL accreditation standards to maintain patient and staff safety.Provides direct oversight to policy management process.