Patient Safety Manager (RN)

Experience the highest level of appreciation at UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center — named Top Workplace in the Baltimore area by The Baltimore Sun two years in a row (2019 & 2020); Top Workplace in the USA for 2021!  As part of the acclaimed University of Maryland Medical System, our facility is one of three ANCC Pathway to Excellence® designated hospitals in Maryland. UM BWMC features one of the state’s busiest emergency departments, as well as a team of experts who care for our community and one another.  The University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center (UMBWMC) provides the highest quality health care services to the communities we serve. Our medical center is home to leading-edge technology, nationally recognized quality, personalized service and outstanding people. We have 285 licensed beds and we’re home to 3,200 employees and over 800 physicians. Our expert physicians and experienced, compassionate staff are connected to medical practices in the local community as well as at University of Maryland Medical Center in downtown Baltimore. For patients, this means access to high-quality care and research discoveries aimed at improving Maryland’s health.  Our physicians and nursing staff specialize in emergency, acute, medical-surgical and critical care. In addition, our medical center is home to many Centers of Excellence, offering expert outpatient health care.

Location: Baltimore Washington Medical Center

Address: 301 Hospital Drive, Glen Burnie, MD 21061

Shift Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00AM - 4:30PM

Job Summary

Responsible for leading the Patient Safety Department and working with hospital leadership, clinical teams, and Risk Management to improve safety and drive efforts towards zero harm. Oversee the Patient Safety team as they coordinate safety activities, review and investigate UM BWMC patient safety events, and engage leaders in departmental and organizational improvement. Ensure the Patient Safety team is deployed appropriately to drive a meaningful reduction in harm using safety driven principles to support a just and reliable culture. Work is performed under limited supervision. Direct report to the Vice President of Quality and Patient Safety.

Primary Responsibilities

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job responsibilities performed.

• Oversee the Patient Safety Program and provides guidance and general direction for department operations, ensuring accurate and timely production of work.
• Accountable for supporting the Patient Safety team in addition to having functional responsibilities including, but not limited to, clinical service/department support, project management, and/or program oversight.
• Responsible for monitoring patient safety priority goals and milestones, achieving sustainable positive outcomes, and identifying opportunities to spread standardized best practices within patient safety.
• Provide mentorship for Patient Safety Leaders to drive organization strategy and reduce preventable harm.
• Identify, investigate, and oversee the daily management of patient safety events, opportunities, trends, and sentinel events in collaboration with MMCIP Risk Management.
• Work with the Patient Safety team to identify and lead activities to improve event reporting and response to near miss events. Support project management for patient safety projects discovered through event reports, adverse events, or data trends.
• Ensure compliance with external regulators and accrediting agencies (e.g., The Joint Commission, CMS, Maryland State Department of Health Office of Healthcare Quality. Ensure that Medical Center and departmental policies, procedures and standards meet requirements and regulations of regulatory and accrediting agencies related to patient safety.
• Serve as a patient safety expert and professional resource for the Patient Safety Program and UM BWMC staff. Facilitate feedback to Patient Safety Leaders and encourage professional advancement, certification, and growth within the field.
• Develop and implement education for employees and medical staff related to patient safety, the prevention of medical errors, and compliance with regulatory standards and National Patient Safety Goals. Participate in staff orientation and contribute to the UM BWMC Quality and Safety Newsletter, safety alerts, “Lessons Learned,” and Great Catch Awards program.
• Serve as a consultant and resource to unit managers and unit/department clinical representatives and assist clinical and ancillary departments with the development of clinical and/or patient safety indicators, criteria, and process improvements.
• Oversee and coordinate the safety event review and root cause analysis process including conducting investigations, facilitating meetings, and running apparent cause analyses.
• Submit or oversee initial reports and action plans for the department in accordance with The Office of Healthcare Quality and the Joint Commission regulations for sentinel event and adverse event review, reporting, and improvement plans. Facilitate action plan development, completion, and sustainment monitoring.
• Review patient records and prepare patient safety event summaries and timelines necessary for informed, collaborative discussion and problem solving.
• Provide support for the safety and clinical teams participation in TJC Sentinel Event Review process to ensure Sentinel Event Policy requirements are met.
• Partner with UM BWMC leadership to facilitate and prioritize the ongoing focus on a culture of patient safety.
• Direct/lead proactive risk assessments/Failure Modes Effects Analysis/Common Cause Analysis, and develop reports to identify patterns and trends and anticipate events to reduce preventable harm.
• Review daily event reports and notify appropriate managers for follow up and escalate to leadership when needed.
• Lead and manage patient safety initiatives/projects including identifying required resources, persons to be involved, and project management requirements to complete the project.
• Accountable for monitoring patient safety priority goals and milestones, achieving sustainable positive outcomes, and identifying opportunities to evangelize standardized best practices within patient safety.
• Provide leadership and direction to multi-disciplinary teams (e.g., physicians and senior leaders) to accomplish patient safety improvement strategies throughout the organization.
• Collaborate with leaders in safety, quality, performance improvement, and data management to drive improvements in patient safety and minimize harm.
• Lead, coordinate, and support organization-wide safety program plan activities to achieve improvement in patient safety metrics and business results.
• Provide just-in-time training on patient safety improvement tools and techniques.
• Support physicians and clinical leaders on processes and approaches to accomplish goals and achieve results.
• Serve as member of or lead key hospital committees and teams as requested for the purpose of ensuring that patient safety and the prevention of medical errors are addressed as needed.
• Round on units to expand the reach of the patient safety program, meet with clinical staff members, provide education and harm reduction, and support regulatory readiness.
• Coordinate implementation of the Safety Culture Assessment survey in collaboration with Performance Innovation and UMMS Safety Leadership, and assist with debriefings in individual work areas as results become available and collates action plans.
• Collaborate with hospital and Patient Safety leadership to develop posters and presentations for internal and external conferences.
• Contribute to the development of budgets.
• Maintain knowledge of and ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations that govern patient safety.
• Ensure awareness of and implement the UM BWMC Patient Safety Plan and Annual Operating Plan goals.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, problem solving, innovation, continuous learning, and a one team mindset.
• Perform managerial functions including hiring, discipline, training and development, and preparing and reviewing performance reviews in accordance with UMMS policies and procedures.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience - Required

• Master’s degree in Nursing, or related health care field, or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Five years of progressively responsible professional experience performing patient safety activities is required, including experience in developing new and innovative patient safety initiatives.
• Two years of leadership experience.
• Current licensure in Nursing in the State of Maryland.
• Professional Patient Safety (CPPS) Certification required upon hire or have the ability to obtain within one year from start date.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Working knowledge of applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations that govern patient safety.
• Working knowledge of and ability to leverage core theories of patient safety science to drive meaningful change.
• Ability to assess safety, quality, and regulatory compliance issues, recommend solutions, and assist responsible areas to resolve issues in a timely, efficient, and effective manner.
• Working knowledge of all phases of safety processes and safety standards.
• Proven ability to lead teams effectively, prioritizing requests, workload and establishing a goal-oriented work environment with clear and concise work procedures and productivity metrics.
• Effective leadership skills, including situational awareness, conflict resolution, establishing alignment and clear direction, and driving continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated leadership ability to successfully motivate and inspire team members to high performance levels.
• Ability to develop collaborative programs and projects with other disciplines (clinical and non-clinical). Must be able to contribute to team effectiveness, build relationships, and facilitate both departmental and organization-wide improvements.
• Advanced project management skills including taking ideas through the full project management life cycle (e.g., initiation, planning, execution, and closure).
• Advanced analytical, conceptual thinking, planning, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced skill presenting findings, conclusions, alternatives and information clearly and concisely at all levels within the organization.
• Advanced skill developing and maintaining collaborative working relationships with all levels of leadership, staff and vendors.
• Advanced skill managing multiple initiatives and meeting changing requirements and priorities to accomplish objectives.
• Exhibit high self-motivation and ability to work and plan independently as well as in a team environment.
• Effective skill in the use of Microsoft Office Suite (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Advanced verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.