Patient Safety and High Reliability Specialist - Clinical Effectiveness

Job Summary:

The Patient Safety & High Reliability Specialist serves as the architect, strategist, and operational representative responsible for the continuous advancement of an integrated, system-wide patient safety, High Reliability Organization (HRO), and Workplace Violence Prevention framework across the entire care continuum. Grounded in CIHQ (Center for Improvement in Healthcare Quality) accreditation standards, CMS Conditions of Participation, OSHA guidelines, and human factors engineering, this role bridges strategic clinical governance with daily bedside, ambulatory, and operational support services. The specialist provides multi-professional clinical leadership across medical staff, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, surgical services, security/public safety, and operational leadership. The position directs both proactive risk mitigation and reactive event management systems to eliminate preventable harm, drastically reducing Serious Safety Events (SSEs), mitigate workplace violence risks, embed Just Culture principles, and cultivate psychological safety. The specialist translates safety science into operational reality ensuring that high-reliability tools are consistently adopted by all Associates across every care site.

Essential Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities:

• Exhibit the F.I.R.S.T. values at all times (Friendliness, Innovation, Respect, Service, Trust).
• Directs enterprise safety plan and assists with accreditation readiness.
• Operationalize and implements High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles.
• Leads standardized patient safety event management, cause analysis, and harm reduction.
• Oversees the Patient Safety Organization and Patient Safety Evaluation System compliance.
• Directs the organization’s Workplace Violence Prevention Program.
• Develops, monitors and reports safety analytics and continuous improvement projects.
• Develop and implement Just Culture philosophies and psychological safety.
• Provides interprofessional clinical and peer review leadership initiatives.
• Collaborates with clinical and operational leaders on safety education, policy, and standardization.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Physical Requirements:

• Lifting and Carrying: Exerting up to 25 lbs. of force occasionally and/or up to 10 lbs. of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
• Sensory: Precise visual acuity required for extensive data analysis, reviewing medical record entries, preparing reports, and viewing visual display terminals for prolonged periods.
• Mobility: Frequently required to walk long distances across hospital facilities, navigate patient care units, stand during observational safety audits, and participate in prolonged meeting sessions.
• Cognitive and communication: Concentrate and exercise sound judgment in a fast-paced environment; communicate clearly, including in emergencies.

Working Conditions and Environmental Hazards:

• Standard administrative office environments combined with daily clinical area walkthroughs (inpatient units, intensive care units, operating rooms, emergency departments, psychiatric units, and outpatient clinics).
• Occasional exposure to clinical environments with potential contact with infectious diseases, bloodborne pathogens, chemical hazards, or agitated individuals (standard personal protective equipment [PPE] and safety protocols provided and mandated as necessary).
• Travel required up to 15% of total hours to go to other hospitals and clinics across the enterprise

Working Relationships:

Frequent, high-level, and complex interactions are a core component of this position. The specialist must exercise high diplomatic skill, clinical authority, emotional intelligence, and discretion when communicating across all internal organizational tiers and external regulatory bodies.

Equipment Used or Special Skills Required:

Accreditation & Regulatory: Knowledge of CIHQ accreditation standards, CMS Conditions of Participation, OSHA Healthcare Guidelines, CDC infection control standards, and state health department/law enforcement reporting mandates.

Safety Principles: Deep expertise in safety culture principles, human error theory, cognitive load mitigation, physical workspace design, and system redundancy planning.

Interprofessional Leadership: Proven ability to build consensus, build psychological safety, and influence physician leaders, nurse executives, security sergeants, ancillary directors, and operational staff without direct line authority.

Data & EHR Systems: Advanced proficiency with Electronic Health Record environments (i.e. Meditech), Incident Reporting software (i.e. Sentact), Statistical Software, Graphic Design (i.e.Canva), Google Suite and Microsoft Office Suite.

Communication Excellence: Exceptional written, verbal, and formal presentation skills; capable of briefing executive boards, educating frontline clinicians, and communicating empathetically with affected teams following serious safety or workplace violence incidents.

Qualifications

Minimum of 5 years of leadership and/or clinical experience within a complex hospital or health system environment with knowledge of clinical quality and patient safety.

Location

Ephraim McDowell Health, Inc

Education Required

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution in Nursing (BSN), Healthcare Administration (BHA), Public Health (BSPH), Allied Health, or a related clinical discipline.

Preferred Education: Master’s Degree (MSN, MHA, MBA, MPH, or MS in Patient Safety/Healthcare Quality).

Certification Required

Professional License if warranted, Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and/or Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) upon hire or obtained within 24 months of employment.

Compensation:

$89,544 - $119,600 annually based on experience.