Patient Safety Officer

Job Description

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. 

Responsibilities

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 quality
  
• Develops 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 completed
  
• Actively participates in safety culture work and helps facilitate improvements
  
• Provides consultation and training on patient safety concepts, safety event analysis, error avoidance and mitigation, and implementation of safe practices
  
• Other 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.
  

Qualifications

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