GENERAL SUMMARY:

Under minimal direction, the Quality/Risk Specialist (QRS) II supports the effective surveillance, analysis, and prevention of events which may injure patients, lead to malpractice claims, and cause loss to the health care system.  The QRS II collaborates with multidisciplinary health care teams to reduce and prevent adverse medical outcomes, minimize the risk of injury to patients, staff and visitors, and control any associated liability.  The QRS II will be involved in sentinel event investigations, safety event investigation and trend analysis, risk management program development, educational in-services and process improvement projects.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• For specified product lines/ business units, independently assists and mentors managers with safety event investigations, closes cases once complete.
• Investigates and responds to inquiries from insurance companies and regulatory bodies. 
• Independently leads root cause analysis (RCA) investigative team; in collaboration with director, prepares RCA for presentation to leadership.  
• Facilitates or co-facilitates multidisciplinary Quality Improvement Teams (QITs) for sentinel events.
• Supervises or leads investigation of complex risk or safety-related cases.
• Apprises business unit/ System leadership of safety events with potentially negative regulatory, public relations, legal or patient safety implications.
• Assists or independently facilitates business unit or System – wide multidisciplinary QITs for process improvements related to complex risk situations; develops/ revises policies as needed.
• Conducts literature review for trends and improvement ideas. Assists with or leads FMEA and other proactive methods; facilitates implementation of identified improvements.
• In collaboration with the supervisor, the QRS II analyzes risk and sentinel event trends for improvement opportunities; assists with preparation of periodic status reports for review by senior leadership.
• Mentors /teaches root cause analysis (RCA) and interviewing techniques to QRS I; may be required to teach investigative techniques to QRS I at business units across System.
• In collaboration with supervisor, and in support of business unit(s) or System, may be required to design and deliver risk and patient safety courses such as root cause and risk investigation techniques.
• Designs and presents educational material to support process improvement implementation.
• Incorporates regulatory requirements into educational materials and policy/process revisions.
• Participates in self education related to Joint Commission, CMS, and other regulatory agencies, and keeps abreast of trends and best practices in health care quality, patient safety, and risk management.
• Works in collaboration with other quality/risk staff, Risk Finance and Insurance, Corporate Legal Affairs, Public Relations, Office of Safety, Human Resources, and others to coordinate and communicate information related to various risk exposures. 
• May be involved in SMDA and product recall activities in collaboration with QRS I, Supply Chain Management and appropriate departments.