Quality Consultant - Internal Medicine

Top candidates for this position will have experience with Internal Medicine. As a patient-focused organization, University of Utah Health exists to enhance the health and well-being of people through patient care, research, and education. Success in this mission requires a culture of collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. We seek staff committed to the values of compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality, and trust.

This position is assigned to the System Quality Department and acts as a catalyst for improvement initiatives throughout the healthcare system. The role involves working closely with medical and hospital patient care staff, managers, and senior leaders to implement the organization's Value Management System, improve patient care, and ensure compliance with State Rules, DNV/ISO/NIAHO Standards, and other regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Act as a catalyst and facilitator for quality improvement and patient safety initiatives.
• Partner with leadership, providers, and staff to design and implement strategies for value improvement for identified quality opportunities.
• Attend and facilitate QI meetings, providing expertise on national quality programs, problem identification and resolution, quality improvement processes and tools, and other patient care and accreditation activities.
• Facilitate adverse event review and corrective action, as well as preventive quality and patient safety efforts.
• Support the development and implementation of improved quality reporting measures and information.
• Review and interpret patient care information from medical records and other data sources to identify quality of care issues; transform these facts into actionable information for improvement work.
• Create reporting documents, summaries, and presentations for monitoring and identifying improvement opportunities.
• Provide education to the organization regarding quality and patient safety topics, performance improvement, and other regulatory metrics and standards.
• Engage stakeholders in delivering high-value care and the organization's Value Management System.
• Perform internal audits and prepare reports to assess and improve organizational compliance with new or existing quality metrics, standards, operational goals, and/or improvement initiatives.
• Develop and maintain effective collaborative working relationships across the organization, and participate with multidisciplinary teams in value improvement work.
• Collaborate with leaders, departments, committees, entities, and individuals to support the delivery of high-value care.
• Provide mentoring, support, and assistance to others in the system who are accountable for value improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a healthcare clinical or business-related field or equivalency.
• One year of clinical or healthcare experience.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of healthcare quality improvement and patient safety topics.
• Strong leadership, quality improvement, and team facilitation skills.
• Data analysis and data presentation skills.
• Knowledge of the organization's Value Management System (e.g., internal ISO Quality Management System).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with attention to detail.
• Demonstrated human relation and effective communication skills.
• Knowledge of medical terminology, Microsoft Office Software (e.g., Excel), and healthcare quality metrics.
• Current knowledge of State, ISO, NIAHO, CMS standards, national payment programs, CMS Core Measures, and other national patient safety/quality indicators.
• Ability to work independently and adapt in a fast-changing work environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification or completed training in Lean, Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, CPHQ, Healthcare Performance Improvement Facilitation, Human Factors, CQI, or equivalency.
• Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse in the State of Utah, or obtain one within 90 days of hire under the interstate compact if switching residency to Utah. Must maintain current Interstate Compact (multi-state) license if residency is not being changed to Utah.
• Two years of leading and/or facilitating quality improvement activities in healthcare.
• Advanced degree in a related field or equivalency.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

This is a sedentary position that may exert up to 10 pounds and may involve lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or otherwise moving objects. The role primarily involves sitting and is not exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

• Listening
• Sitting
• Speaking
• Standing
• Walking