Quality Improvement Specialist - Temporary Full Time (Interprofessional Practice)

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Headwaters Health Care Centre. One Community, Caring Together.

We are a dedicated team of professionals focused on providing the best care possible for our patients, families, and caregivers. We work together to care for the whole person from hospital to home.

We are looking for a Quality Improvement Specialist to work with our Interprofessional Practice Department to help us continue in our mission to serve our community with Kindness, Accountability, Respect, and Teamwork.

Position Description:

Reporting to the Director, Quality, Risk, Patient Safety & Interprofessional Practice, the Quality Improvement Specialist applies expertise in quality and process improvement to support organizational, program, and unit-level priorities. In collaboration with clinical programs, leaders, and Quality and Practice Committees, the Specialist develops integrated work plans, establishes baseline measures and governance structures, and implements audit cycles, dashboards, and measurable controls to support and sustain improvement.

The Specialist builds organizational capacity for continuous quality improvement and promotes a strong culture of patient safety. The role facilitates the integration, monitoring, evaluation, and sustainability of quality improvement initiatives across the organization.

Duties Include:

• Builds organizational capacity for continuous quality improvement and facilitates the integration of quality improvement initiatives that are continuously monitored.
• Provides consultation and expertise to all services in the development of quality and process improvement capability and competence at the program/service/department level e.g. knowledge and skill related to quality and process improvement frameworks, methodologies and tools e.g. LEAN, Plan-do-Study-Act (PDSA), value stream mapping, human factors, driver diagrams, five whys, Pareto charts, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA), etc.
• Leads, coaches and supports front-line staff, physicians, midwives, and leaders in applying quality and process improvement methods, providing oversight, guidance and mentorship through each stage of their improvement work so that teams can lead their own projects and sustain improvements.
• Develops and delivers education, workshops, and training sessions on quality improvement, patient safety, and change management.
• Develops tools and templates to assist leaders, physicians, midwives and staff in their quality improvement work and maintains a repository of QI tools and resources that are easily accessible to all staff, midwives and physicians.
• Assists leaders in the development of sustainable strategies and tools for them to track and monitor the progress of quality and process improvement initiatives to continually improve the provision of patient care within their portfolios.
• Supports and provides guidance to program and department leaders to analyze current trends and data in support of quality improvement and patient safety.
• Collects, interprets and reports quality and safety information to Corporate Quality of Care Ctte and Program Quality and Practice Cttes.
• Works with program and department leaders, physicians and midwives to establish baseline measures and implement audit cycles, dashboards, and measurable controls to monitor and sustain improvements.
• Coordinates annual reviews of quality and process improvement programs and processes to evaluate whether standards and expectations are being met and verify that intended outcomes have been achieved and sustained. Works with accountable leaders to establish corrective actions, responsibilities, and timelines for identified gaps, monitors completion, and reports findings, progress, and unresolved barriers to leaders and committees.
• Presents the results of quality and safety data analysis, annual reviews, and improvement progress to Quality and Practice Committees and senior leadership.
• Monitors external indicators and benchmarks (e.g., CIHI, Ontario Health) to identify improvement opportunities.
• Provides guidance and supports the review of incidents and patient safety events, and shares learning and follow-up actions with teams.
• Supports the use of patient and family feedback and engagement to inform improvement priorities.
• Assists with the development of the annual corporate Quality Improvement Plan (QIP) and supports implementation by working with indicator owners to monitor targets, track improvement actions, and report progress and barriers throughout the year.
• Facilitates quality and process improvement activities including process mapping and Kaizen or similar events.
• Promotes an environment that encourages and supports change using change management theory.
• Promotes a just culture and a learning environment where staff feel safe to report concerns.
• As an employee of Headwaters Health Care Centre (HHCC), contributes to a transparent culture of patient and staff safety by adhering to and abiding by patient and staff safety policies and procedures set by HHCC.
• Performs other related duties as assigned

• Health Professional with an Undergraduate Degree required
• Master’s Degree in a health-related discipline, Quality and/or Patient safety is preferred.
• Minimum two (2) years of experience in leading healthcare-based quality and patient safety projects (hospital-based preferred), with demonstrated leadership in Quality Improvement, Patient Safety, and Risk Management preferred
• Minimum two (2) years of progressive career experience demonstrating successful outcomes on a variety of quality performance indicators
• Expert knowledge of quality and safety with the ability to introduce innovative approaches to change
• Comprehensive knowledge of quality improvement methodologies, patient safety methodologies, service design, data management and reporting, and patient engagement
• Demonstrated ability to successfully lead a portfolio of projects simultaneously
• Lean or Six Sigma certification is an asset
• Experience facilitating Kaizen or similar events and process mapping
• Experience in change management
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with the ability to identify trends, establish benchmarks, and provide credible analysis and recommendations
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to coach, mentor and motivate
• Excellent interpersonal, written (including report writing) and verbal communication skills; experience working both independently and, in a collaborative team environment is essential
• Advanced level proficiency using word processing, communications/scheduling and spreadsheet applications, Microsoft Windows Office suite (including Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Visio), Adobe Acrobat Pro, and SharePoint
• Proficiency with project management software
• Experience in use of feedback and incident management system

We are hiring for an existing vacancy.

*The duration of this temporary position is approximately twelve (12) months