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 the 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.
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- 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.
- 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.
- Facilitates a multidisciplinary approach to improve clinical processes and outcomes. Makes recommendations to key leadership for team strategies to achieve desired outcomes.
- Serves as a lead resource and mentor for other Quality Outcome Specialists. May assist in creating and reviewing project designs.
SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- 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.
- Supports leadership with the development and implementation of patient safety and process improvement changes. Makes recommendations for unit-based process change initiatives.
QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Facilitates performance improvement projects/initiatives to improve outcomes, ultimately impacting hospital finances.
GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Identifies and recommends opportunities for improvement in accordance with hospital leadership.
- Assists in the development of long-term tactics and strategies to improve operational processes.
- Analyzes and assesses present and future needs, trends, challenges, and opportunities related to hospital processes and operations.
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
- Bachelor's degree in nursing
- Master's degree preferred
WORK EXPERIENCE
- Four years of experience in direct patient care activities in a hospital setting
- Three years of experience in Hospital Quality Improvement
- Two years of progressive leadership experience
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED
- RN - Registered Nurse - Texas State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure within 60 days OR
- RN-Temp - Registered Nurse - Temporary State Licensure within 60 days AND
- CPHQ - Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) within 18 months OR
- CPPS - Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CBPPS) within 18 months OR
- CPSO - Certified Patient Safety Officer (IBFCSM) within 18 months OR
- EPIC - Certification within 18 months
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
- Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
- Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
- Demonstrates knowledge and application of process improvement tools and techniques (statistical process control tools and team tools)
- Demonstrates knowledge of regulatory and accrediting standards as they apply to performance improvement
- Skill in developing and maintaining interpersonal relationships with a wide variety of healthcare professionals and hospital leadership
- Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions and evidence performance improvement via measurable results
- Ability to enter and abstract data using personal computer, as well as the ability to utilize data to facilitate the improvement and change in processes
- Computer skills to include Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
- Ability to facilitate performance improvement teams, present data and promote a collaborative approach toward goal achievement
- Ability to work independently and interdependently
- Presentation skills and expertise in designing and implementing teams/educational offerings related to clinical quality
SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE
- Uniform No
- Scrubs No
- Business professional Yes
- Other (department approved) No
ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.
TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**
- May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
- May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No
Company Profile:
Houston Methodist is one of the nation’s leading health systems and academic medical centers. Houston Methodist consists of eight hospitals: Houston Methodist Hospital, its flagship academic hospital in the heart of the Texas Medical Center, and seven community hospitals throughout the greater Houston area. Houston Methodist also includes an academic institute, a comprehensive residency program, a global business division, numerous physician practices and several free-standing emergency rooms and outpatient facilities. Overall, Houston Methodist employs more than 27,000 employees and is supported by a wide variety of business functions that operate at the system level to help enable clinical departments to provide high quality patient care.
Houston Methodist is an equal opportunity employer inclusive of women, minorities, disabled persons and veterans.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Equal employment opportunity is a sound and just concept to which Houston Methodist is firmly bound. Houston Methodist will not engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with Houston Methodist on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law. VEVRAA Federal Contractor – priority referral Protected Veterans requested.
