Sterile Processing Quality Improvement Specialist

About the role

Full-time position eligible for benefits. Position may include travel to other AHWFB Hospital locations (Alleghany, Davie, High Point, Hugh Chatham, Lexington, Wilkes and future Greensboro hospital) and ASC locations (Clemmons, Greensboro, High Point, Winston).

Schedule

Full-time, 40 hours per week. Days Monday–Friday, 0730–1530. Shift could vary to meet operational needs for evening/night shift.

Pay

$33.05 – $49.60 per hour.

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a health-related field or industrial engineering; master’s degree preferred or equivalent work experience.
• Four years’ experience in a health care setting, including at least three years in quality improvement, process improvement, change management, or related roles.

Licensure, Certification, and/or Registration

• Certification in Health Care Quality (CPHQ), Six Sigma or other health quality certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Evaluates performance through assessment of workflow efficiency, staff competency, resource utilization, safety, and compliance.
• Develops and facilitates implementation of improvement plans using the IHI Model for Improvement and LEAN methodologies.
• Works closely with select departments to identify and prioritize opportunities for improvement.
• Analyzes data for patterns and trends in care delivery; performs root cause analysis for patient care trends and critical events (e.g., Root Cause Analysis, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis).
• Translates data into actionable information and disseminates findings using performance improvement tools (e.g., run charts, histograms).
• Recommends strategies for early intervention, health/disease management, new programs, workflow and operational improvements.
• Ensures staff have education and resources needed to facilitate change; keeps leadership and staff informed of performance relative to desired levels.
• Collaborates with teams to increase practices/providers with NCQA recognition for Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH), Diabetes, Heart and Stroke, and others; maintains recognition status.
• Documents and reports improvement activities internally and externally as appropriate.
• Highlights results and accomplishments of quality improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrates problem solving, leadership, conflict management, and team building skills to ensure productive work environment and goal achievement.
• Aligns efforts with other departments to achieve common goals.
• Collaborates with leadership and staff to create policies and procedures that ensure excellent quality care and minimize patient harm.
• Attends meetings, conferences, and trainings related to continuous improvement.

Skills/Qualifications

• Knowledge of quality improvement concepts, methods, and tools (e.g., PDSA, rapid cycle quality improvement, LEAN, Six Sigma, reliability principles) and change management experience.
• Knowledge of computer systems and applications; medical terminology, medical records, and clinical care processes.
• Experience with system design, reengineering, reliability, quality improvement, process mapping, project management, data management, and statistical analysis.
• Proficient in using an evidence-based approach to facilitate multidisciplinary quality improvement work.
• Proficient in team development and facilitation techniques applied to project teams.
• Experience leading group processes and negotiation.

Work Environment

• Clean, well-lit, and comfortable climate.
• Frequent contact with staff and others; subject to many interruptions and moderate noise.
• Work may be stressful at times; subject to varying and unpredictable situations and changes in work schedules and areas to meet customer/department needs.

Physical Requirements

• Standing: 0% to 35%
• Walking: 35% to 65%
• Sitting: 65% to 100%
• Bending, reaching with arms, finger and hand dexterity, talking, hearing, seeing.
• Lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling: up to 20 lbs., up to 50 lbs., up to 100 lbs.