TITLE: Director Safety and Quality- Hospital Access
DEPARTMENT: Safety and Quality
REPORTS TO: Senior Director, Safety and Quality
Areas of focus: Hospital Access Initiatives
HYBRID WORK OPPORTUNITY
Pay Range: $120,000-$160,000
Benefits: Medical HMO and PPO, Dental, Vision, Life, LTD, ADD, FSA/HSA, EAP, and Vacation
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Director, Safety and Quality, Hospital Access Initiatives is an integral part of the Washington State Hospital Association’s safety and quality work. WSHA’s safety and quality team is dedicated to improving health care outcomes across the health care continuum through data-driven and evidence-informed strategies. The Director is a key member of a strong and collaborative team supported by the membership of 100 percent of Washington State’s hospitals.
This position is responsible for leading and implementing programs designed to improve successful patient discharge and transition from hospitals in Washington State, including for complex patients. Ensuring patients get the right care in the right location will create access to necessary care. This position is also responsible for achieving results in Medicaid-related quality measures tied to the Safety Net Assessment Program. This work requires coordinating with and supporting WSHA safety and quality measure owners (WSHA data analytics staff and quality staff at the Health Care Authority) to ensure success of the program for members. This position also leads quality and safety work related to supporting hospital capacity, including emergency department boarding and emergency/disaster response preparedness. This work requires close coordination with member hospitals and external stakeholders including the Washington State Department of Health and emergency coalitions.
This role will report to the Senior Director, Safety and Quality and will work closely with WSHA’s SVP, Safety and Quality, Senior Policy Director, Insurance and Finance, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Safety and Quality Directors and Data Analysts.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Evaluate data measures related to the Safety Net Assessment Program and engage stakeholders in work to improve performance on these measures.
- Serve as program leader and administrative point person in the design and execution of responsibilities associated with assigned projects.
- Foster partnership with particular focus on collaboration with strategic organizations related to areas of focus.
- Engage in continuous learning and study to understand emerging trends in assigned topics, current focus of transformation and latest evidence in quality care.
- Schedule, manage, create content and lead training and education sessions, including meetings with member hospital quality teams, to provide evidence, best practices, and other information to improve care.
- Serve members by providing services that are a valuable resource and in a manner members want to be engaged.
- Coordinate meetings; develop effective work plans; manage timelines; coordinate internal transitions of work; support data needs; address customer needs; and support completion of quarterly, annual and management reports as requested by leadership.
- Present at meetings determined to be important including the WSHA Board Safety and Quality Committee, clinical experts, government agencies and legislators, etc.
- Manage web site for areas of accountability making sure they are up to date.
- Interface between the participating groups and cohorts, contracted resources and internal resources to provide high level customer service. Also communicate directly with participating groups as needed.
- Maintain and improve systems to effectively support the project’s integrity and sustainability.
- Consult with and facilitate content delivery from national and local experts to support value to members and results.
- Advance and incorporate rapid cycle improvement based on national and local developments and offer feedback in a way that best accomplishes the goals of the program.
- Participate in state and regional taskforces or workgroups to advance initiatives and represent hospital/WSHA priorities.
- Partner with WSHA Data Analytics team to support implementation of equity-related data collection and reporting requirements and to identify and display relevant data and information.
- Partner with Government Affairs teams to support review of related policies and provide input during related rulemaking. Collect and elevate hospital feedback.
- Assist in seeking funding or ensuring deliverables are met to secure ongoing funding for key projects.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
This position does not have internal supervisory responsibilities. However, this person may oversee and direct the work of external constituencies such as national and local physician experts, and any other contracts involved.
QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Education/Experience
Bachelor’s degree required in Nursing or Social Work, master’s degree highly preferred. A minimum of five years of clinical experience and leadership in health care in a hospital setting. The ideal candidate would possess experience in one or more Washington State hospitals with the following skills: payor-based knowledge, including Medicaid populations, experience with care management/care coordination and transitional care, emergency department clinical operations and emergency preparedness. Demonstrated knowledge and success in change management, operations, program development, and complex project management.
Skills & Abilities:
- Demonstrated multidisciplinary leadership.
- Clinical and operational experience related to emergency services or care management, preferably in a Washington State hospital setting.
- Ability to interpret data in conjunction with data analysts, including equitable measurement and improvement in areas for which this role is accountable.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and achieve rapid results on improvement initiatives.
- Ability to develop, lead, and participate in partnerships with other organizations.
- Ability to develop programs to meet the needs of all members, including rural health and psychiatric care settings.
- Strong working knowledge of improving care processes, working with communities, reducing disparities and working with multiple stakeholders in complex projects.
- Excellent research capabilities in finding and sharing clinical best practices; must have skill using an equity lens in gathering data, designing reports, and developing systems to collect and present data.
- Strong team player who can lead, coordinate and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Excellent customer/member relations skills as well as verbal and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated ability to plan, research, develop, and deliver with very high satisfaction by members.
- Experience working closely with groups composed of a variety of disciplines.
- Understanding of organizational safety culture and change management.
- Demonstrated expertise in one of the primary areas of focus.
- Comfortable giving and receiving feedback in a constructive manner to colleagues and supervisors.
Computer Skills:
- Strong computer and data management skills, including proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite, especially PowerPoint, and ability to produce graphs, charts and spreadsheets.
- Demonstrated ability with web-based tools such as managing and updating website content.
- Ability to gather, interpret and analyze data using computer software.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The physical demands and work environment described below represent the activities and surroundings of the positions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This is a full-time position associated with successful sustainability of this project. It requires attendance during core business hours and occasional time beyond the standard business day. Position requires frequent use of computer and exposure to normal physical office environment. The work is typically performed in an office environment, with a moderate noise level. The employee is frequently required to talk and hear on the telephone and in person with individuals and groups. The staff person is required to read and respond to documents in hard copy and electronic form. The position requires regular travel within Washington State to member facilities, and on occasion, overnight travel is necessitated.
