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Patient Safety & Quality Consultant- Patient Safety Program- Hybrid

Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems
United States, Virginia, Richmond
Jul 01, 2025
This is a hybrid work opportunity that requires 3 days in-office and 2 days remote. Given the weekly in-office requirements, candidates must be local to the Richmond, VA area. The Patient Safety and Quality Consultant (PSQC) plays a central role in advancing patient safety and quality improvement across VCU Health at the system level. This position leads key initiatives such as Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement (QAPI), safety event report review and escalation, Root Cause Analyses around serious safety events, and medical staff quality programs. The PSQC collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to drive performance improvement projects, manage the full lifecycle of safety events, and ensure that findings from investigations lead to meaningful, system-wide changes. In this role, the consultant fosters a culture of safety, transparency, and continuous learning. They utilize data analytics and visualization tools to inform decision-making and track progress toward strategic goals. The PSQC also facilitates proactive risk assessments like Failure Modes and Effects Analyses (FMEAs), supports a just culture, and promotes psychological safety in team communications. Additionally, they work to improve care transitions and healthcare processes, integrating population health strategies to ensure care is safe, equitable, and efficient. The PSQC serves as a consultant and liaison to Medical Center team members, supporting teams with compliance with regulatory standards and meeting key performance indicators. Ongoing professional development and certification maintenance are essential aspects of the role, ensuring the consultant remains current with best practices in patient safety and quality improvement. The Patient Safety & Quality Consultant is a thought partner with VCUHS executive, physician, nursing and ancillary leaders in strategic planning and implementation of data-driven initiatives to achieve clinical excellence at the system, clinical service and care site level. The role may serve as a coach, facilitator, or advisor as appropriate for the needs of the organization. The Safety & Quality Consultant II serves as a subject matter expert in established performance improvement techniques and strategies. The role is responsible for accelerating the successful management of change to ensure improvements are spread and a sustainability plan is implemented. The Patient Safety & Quality Consultant manages improvement projects and multi-disciplinary teams through all phases, from inception to implementation and spread. The role provides formal and just-in-time education on safety & quality improvement methodologies to increase organizational improvement capability. Essential Job Statements Lead the integration of safety & quality into the fabric of the organization to achieve care targets. Advance the organization through collaboration, learning and communication. Implement processes for engagement and teamwork Create learning opportunities to advance the organization Communicate effectively in multiple venues via multiple routes Ensure appropriate use of data to drive change and improvement Use proven methods to facilitate improvement initiatives Utilize performance and process improvement tools Implement change management methodology Employ project management tactics Leverage data analytics to help guide decision-making and inform improvement initiatives Design and implement data structure and plans to support initiatives Integrate data from multiple sources into initiatives Use statistical and data visualization methods Cultivate a safe healthcare environment by promoting safe practices, nurturing a just culture and improving processes that detect, mitigate, or prevent harm Facilitate root cause analyses and FMEAs Apply high-reliability principles to improvement initiatives Ensure focus remains on process-driven solutions rather than people-driven ones Promote psychological safety through transparency of data and information. Evaluate and improve healthcare processes and care transitions to advance the safe, equitable, efficient, effective, and timely care of our diverse patient population. Integrate population health management strategies into initiatives Apply a holistic approach to improvement Collaborate to improve care processes and transitions Maintain & update knowledge base Update professional knowledge applicable to the role by participating in education opportunities such as reading professional publications and networking locally and regionally. Complete required continuing education to maintain certification (as applicable). Ensure responsibility and visible commitment of diversity equity and inclusion strategy, programs, and initiatives through collaboration and implementation of initiatives across the health system. Performs other duties as assigned and/or participating in special projects in order to support the mission of VCUHS and the HR Business Advisory team. Accepting alternate responsibilities as required. Patient Population Not applicable to this position. Employment Qualifications Required Education: Bachelor's Degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration, or related clinical or academic field Preferred Education: Master's Degree in healthcare field (e.g. MSHA, MPH, MSN, MHA), Quality Engineering, Business Administration or related field Supplemental course work in quality improvement, such as quality methodologies/tools, data analysis, patient safety, Lean, Six Sigma, quality engineering, and/or project management Course work in statistics Fellowship in Patient Safety Licensure/Certification Required: Current license in the Commonwealth of Virginia (e.g. Registered Nurse, Pharmacist, Nurse Practitioner, Registered Dietitian or similar) if candidate holds a professional license Licensure/Certification Preferred: Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) preferred Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) preferred Certified Project Manager (PMP) preferred Lean Six Sigma Black Belt preferred Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent within 1 year to maintain position Minimum Qualifications Years and Type of Required Experience Minimum of three (3) years of work experience in the healthcare environment which may include hospital or clinic setting with specific experience in the following areas: clinical processes safety & quality improvement processes and tools facilitating and/or leading interdisciplinary groups leadership (formal or informal) in a healthcare organization collecting, organizing, and analyzing data developing and making presentations Previous experience using a personal computer and software application to include the Internet, e-mail, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.), MS Project, Visio Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required: Cultural Responsiveness Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias. Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred: Previous experience with organization-wide performance improvement and/or coordinating projects in an academic medical center with a wide variety of services, including ambulatory care, home care, emergency care, critical care, and inpatient care. Previous experience applying and explaining statistical process control tools; conducting group facilitation/presentation; and designing data collection tools Previous experience using mapping/flowcharting software and working with databases (e.g., Visio, Access) Combination of education and experience in lieu of a degree. Working Conditions Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur. General office environment. May have periods of constant interruptions. Prolonged periods of working alone. Other: May be required to car travel to off-site locations occasionally Physical Requirements Physical Demands Lifting/ Carrying (0-50 lbs.)- up to 33% of the time Push/ Pull (0-50 lbs.)- up to 33% of the time Work Position Sitting, Walking, Standing Additional Physical Requirements Manual dexterity (eye/hand coordination) Repetitive arm/hand movements Finger Dexterity Hazards N/A Mental / Sensory Strong Recall, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Hearing, Speak Clearly, Write Legibly, Reading, Logical Thinking Emotional Fast-paced environment, Steady Pace, Able to Handle Multiple Priorities, Able to Adapt to Frequent Change Make a difference for all the patients at VCU Medical Center by improving patient safety! Use your skills and experience to respond to identified opportunities using healthcare quality improvement tools and facilitating analyses & projects with multidisciplinary teams. Days EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran/41 CFR 60-1.4.