Quality Improvement Specialist

SUMMARY:

The Rhode Island Hospital Quality and Patient Safety Department is committed to supporting the organization's mission to deliver safe, highly reliable, patient-centered care in a complex, academic, Level 1 trauma center. The Quality Improvement Specialist plays an integral role in planning, executing, and evaluating quality, safety, and performance improvement initiatives to support the strategic goals of the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) Plan.

The Quality Improvement Specialist uses data-driven methodologies and collaborates with leaders and multidisciplinary teams to optimize health outcomes, patient safety, patient experience, equity, and ensure alignment with regulatory and accreditation standards including The Joint Commission, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Rhode Island Department of Health.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Quality and Performance Improvement:

Leads or supports quality improvement initiatives using recognized improvement science methods (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, PDSA).

Facilitates interdisciplinary workgroups, process mapping sessions, and rapid-cycle improvement activities.

Supports and conducts root cause analyses (RCA), apparent cause analyses (ACA), and Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (FMEA) for clinical and operational issues.

Develops, monitors, and evaluates improvement action plans; ensures timely escalation of barriers or risks.

Data Analysis & Reporting

Collects, analyzes, and interprets clinical, operational, and performance data from multiple sources.

Creates dashboards, reports, and presentations to communicate trends, variability, and opportunities for improvement.

Ensures accuracy, validity, and clarity of data presented to executive leadership, frontline teams, and governance committees.

Supports data abstraction or registry management as needed (e.g., Epic, Vizient, CMS, PowerBI).

Regulatory & Accreditation Readiness

Assists with ongoing readiness for The Joint Commission, CMS Conditions of Participation, and Rhode Island Department of Health.

Monitors compliance with national quality measures and supports performance improvement related to publicly reported metrics.

Supports the Accreditation and Regulatory Readiness team during survey activities.

Patient Safety Support

Works closely with the Patient Safety team to investigate safety events, identify contributing factors, and develop corrective actions.

Promotes high-reliability principles and fosters a culture of safety.

Supports implementation of safety initiatives including standardized communication, handoff processes, and harm-reduction strategies.

Education & Training

Provides guidance and education on quality improvement methodologies, project management tools, and performance improvement concepts.

Assists staff with interpretation and application of quality metrics, dashboards, and regulatory requirements.

Supports academic mission by partnering with residents, fellows, and faculty on quality improvement initiatives.

Collaboration & Engagement

Builds strong working relationships with physicians, nurses, administrators, and frontline teams.

Serves as a resource to clinical service lines and operational departments regarding quality measurement and improvement.

Participates in hospital committees related to quality, safety, and performance improvement.

Plans, organizes, and assists with facilitation of quality committee presentations in accordance with the organization's quality reporting structure (e.g., Quality Oversight Committee (QOC), Quality Monitoring and Improvement Committee (QMIC), Zero Harm Committee, Mortality Review Committee (MRC).

Perform other related duties as assigned.

EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree in Nursing, Public Health, Healthcare Administration, Quality/Performance Improvement, or related field required.

Master's degree (MPH, MHA, MSN, MBA) preferred.

EXPERIENCE

Minimum of 2 years of experience in quality improvement, patient safety, healthcare management/analytics, or related field.

Experience in a hospital or similarly complex healthcare environment preferred.

Experience with regulatory/accreditation preparation and national quality programs is beneficial.

Licensure/Certifications

Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) preferred.

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt credential preferred.

Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) preferred.

Technical Skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI, Visio).

Strong understanding of EMR workflows (Epic preferred).

Familiarity with national registries (e.g., Vizient, CMS, etc.).

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

None

Pay Range:

EEO Statement:

Brown University Health is committed to providing equal employment opportunities and maintaining a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment.

Location:

Work Type:

Work Shift:

Daily Hours:

Driving Required: