RN Clinical Quality Assurance Specialist - UNC Infection Prevention

Job Description

Description

Become part of an inclusive organization with over 40,000 diverse employees, whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of the unique communities we serve.

This Infection Prevention position is responsible for collaborating with the department’s senior quality leader to lead cross-functional quality and process improvement initiatives. A Clinical Quality Assurance Specialist uses a combination of nursing, quality, and informatics knowledge to keep quality improvement initiatives moving forward. This may include forming teams to address a quality issue, communicating with stakeholders, and understanding and using Epic as a tool for quality improvement. At least 25% of the position involves real-time observation, data collection, and coaching through rounding on patients and giving feedback to staff. Key job responsibilities for this position include helping to coach quality improvement projects, facilitating meetings, using literature and data to guide interventions, developing project materials, conducting regular patient rounding, and participating in relevant committees.

 Description of Job Responsibilities: 

1. Provides quality and organizational excellence by leading cross-functional quality and process improvement initiatives. 

2. Measurement & Analysis- Contributes to data collection and quality assurance through regular patient rounding to assess compliance with basic components of healthcare-associated infection prevention (e.g., central line dressings, Foley catheters.) Identifies and drives analytic needs for improvement projects/initiatives. Provides education to staff on best practice patient care as well as appropriate documentation. 

3. Problem Solving & Implementation-Makes decisions based on analyses and data. Develops interventions and initiatives based on evidence. Able to present concepts and data to stakeholders. Strives to implement solutions that span multiple departments/divisions. Identifies methods for solving problems which eliminate steps, speed processes, and reduce complexity. 

4. Project Management-Influences and gains commitment from all members of project team. Able to identify resources necessary to meet project needs. Able to obtain and maintain executive support for projects through communication and leadership. Key participant in relevant committees. 

5. Tools, Methodologies, & Technologies- Supports leaders in development of project charter and selection of best approach to solve a particular problem. 

Summary:
This position is responsible for providing leadership to ensure validity of measurement, accuracy of data, patient safety and regulatory compliance with quality improvement, reporting, and regulatory initiatives. A clinical quality assurance specialist uses a combination of nursing, quality, and informatics knowledge to manage data, process, and information systems. In this role, the objectives would include improving clinical care as well as clinical documentation and reporting for treatment, prevention, and drug administration regimens, record keeping practices, workflow procedures, medical decision-making practices, and pay-for-performance programs.

Responsibilities:
1. Must be an active participant in staying current with all pay for performance programs, government regulations, and key health care system initiatives regarding medical record documentation and plan of care.
2. Performs medical record abstraction for the purpose of quality improvement or reporting. Review and analyze healthcare data and records, validating accuracy and quality documentation to ensure compliance with program requirements. Acts as primary resource and consultant for healthcare providers in regards to a complete and accurate medical record. Ensures that medical records meet regulations. Consults with healthcare provider or quality initiative team regarding missing documentation and ensures that the correct data is entered.
3. Presents results from data analysis to healthcare providers, chairs, appropriate boards, and quality initiative teams. Also presents at conferences, meetings, etc. on regulations and standards for documentation in medical records.
4. Promotes the improvement of patient care and clinical excellence in clinical information systems via effective collaboration with healthcare providers, business and quality analysts, and leaders of clinical programs and quality initiatives. Ensures that the health care system as an organization and clinical providers are following best practice care and are documenting in accordance with these clinical and quality initiatives.
5. Provides education to healthcare providers on best practice patient care as well as documentation, interpretation and compliance of the medical record. Collaborates with medical providers on the documentation for the elements of care for certain patient populations.
6. Works with quality initiative teams to improve care delivery and documentation. Provides support to develop and utilize processes that improve clinical documentation to support patient care, efficient clinical processes, and analytics needs.

Other Information

Other information:
Education Requirements:
● Bachelor's degree in Nursing (BSN) from a state-accredited school of professional nursing.
Licensure/Certification Requirements:
● Licensed to practice as a Registered Nurse in the state of North Carolina.
Professional Experience Requirements:
● Three (3) years of clinical experience in a healthcare setting or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Two years of experience working in project management and/or quality improvement strongly preferred.

Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements:

Job Details

Legal Employer: STATE

Entity: UNC Medical Center

Organization Unit: OQE - Infection Prevention 

Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00

Work Schedule: Day Job

Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: Yes