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Company Overview

The people of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) are united by a singular mission: ending cancer for life. Our specialized care teams provide personalized, compassionate, expert care to patients of all ages. Informed by basic research done at our Sloan Kettering Institute, scientists across MSK collaborate to conduct innovative translational and clinical research that is driving a revolution in our understanding of cancer as a disease and improving the ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat it. MSK is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists and clinicians, who go on to pursue our mission at MSK and around the globe.

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Job Description

Director, Patient Safety - Quality & Safety

The Director, Patient Safety is a crucial leadership role focused on patient safety with our Quality & Safety team.

Role Overview:

• The Director of Patient Safety is responsible for overseeing, directing, and leading patient safety.
• The position reports into and partners with the Vice President of Quality and Safety to develop strategic and operational plans that build upon current programs and advance the Patient Safety missions at MSK within the framework of our high-reliability journey.
• The Director provides leadership in developing a culture of safety and high reliability across MSK, building a system of sustained learning for leaders and staff, and in identifying opportunities and initiatives to enhance patient safety that ensures adherence to legal, regulatory, and accreditation requirements.
• This position will work closely with clinical departments, hospital senior leadership, and administrative teams for inpatient, outpatient, perioperative, and operational/supporting services.
• In addition, the role provides leadership and assists physician safety leaders throughout MSK to set and execute strategies to improve patient and staff safety throughout the organization.

Patient Safety Leadership & Strategy -

• Manages overall institutional patient safety programs and initiatives including the management of organizational quality and safety goals related to patient safety and conducts annual safety assessment.
• Identifies issues and barriers in clinical operations that may affect Patient Safety.
• In collaboration with quality improvement, reviews, develops, and implements policies and procedures to enhance Patient Safety.
• Acts as designated contact person for all matters of patient safety for both internal and external individuals and/or entities, including regulatory & accrediting agencies and the NY/NJ Departments of Health, insurance companies and federal agencies (such as CMS).
• In collaboration with Regulatory Affairs, assists with investigation of patient safety related complaints filed with TJC and/or NYS/NJ Departments of Health.
• Provides support during scheduled and unscheduled site visits, , with regulatory bodies such as the DOH, TJC, CMS, etc., as needed.
• Represents MSK at local, state, and national meetings and conferences as directed by the Vice President, Quality and Safety.
• Sets the direction and implementation of patient safety related education, including a plan for sustained delivery; develops the curricula for patient safety programs including high reliability education.
• Coordinates strategy to maximize adverse event reporting across MSK and identifies, measures and analyzes key safety performance indicators and trends.
• In collaboration with Quality & Safety leadership, conducts safety culture survey/assessment across MSK; presents results to senior leadership then coordinates with leadership integration of initiatives to improve areas identified by the Survey.

Safety Event/Adverse Event Management & Mitigation -

• Maintains and provides leadership and direction for a comprehensive incident report database. Responsible for initial analysis of all safety events reported through the safety event reporting system and from other sources. This includes root-, common-, and apparent cause analyses.
• Partners with key stakeholders to coordinate Root Cause Analysis, and/or reporting to governmental agencies (e.g., NYPORTS, FDA for device malfunction issues). Leads coordination and oversight for institutional RCA committee response to adverse events and ongoing monitoring of subsequent safety initiatives.
• Responsible for system-wide classification of these events and reporting into any statewide reporting system (e.g., NYPORTS) in a timely fashion, abiding by all regulations.
• Maintains the institution cause analysis program, including training of facilitators and executive owners.
• Participates in complaint investigation processes.
• Educates and supports Quality & Safety staff on the understanding of complex clinical issues.

Operational Management -

• Collaborates with clinical quality improvement and unit/local leadership to assure maintenance of daily management systems and patient safety rounds.
• Oversees and manages the Good Catch, Good Care Program.

Staff Management -

• Provides leadership for the Patient Safety team members.
• Plans, guides, and manages the functions, resources, and activities of the Patient Safety team to meet institutional and department goals, objectives and timelines including recruitment, training, and overall management of team members.
• Establishes goals and priorities, measurements, and benchmarks to define success for the Patient Safety team.
• Provides direct reports with guidance, mentoring, and performance feedback as well as development opportunities.
• Builds the capability of the Patient Safety team to meet current and future needs of MSK.

Financial Management -

• Develops and maintains operating, capital, and salary budget for Patient Safety and ensures the department operates within budget.
• Ensures compliance with departmental purchases and expenses.
• Oversees preparation of monthly variance reports. Reviews significant variances with VP Quality & Safety.
• Tracks expenses and oversees the submission of required financial reports.

Key Qualifications:

• RN (NY) License or other clinical experience.
• Master's degree in Nursing, Nursing Administration, Healthcare, or relevant area with more than 10 years experience in a complex clinical environment.
• 5 years' of management experience required; 3 years' progressive and results-oriented experience in Safety and Quality.
• Certified Professional in Patient Safety; can be obtained in the first 18 months

Core Skills:

• Proven track record of excellent application of improvement and patient safety science; experience working with performance improvement tools and methodologies, familiarity with current trends, and ability to implement them required.
• Working knowledge of applicable safety rules and regulations.
• Experience in patient safety event reporting systems.
• Ability to explain complex clinical issues to non-clinical staff.
• Expertise in high-reliability principles and concepts.
• Excellent leadership skills are essential.
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality.
• Strong communication skills.
• Excellent judgment and decision-making skills.

Additional Information:

• Location: Hybrid / 633 Third Avenue, NYC
• Schedule: Monday - Friday, 9 am - 5 pm
• Reporting to the Vice President of Quality of Safety

Pay Range: $193,800 - $329,500/annually

Helpful Links:

• MSK Compensation Philosophy
• Review Our Greats Benefits Offerings

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Closing

MSK is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruiting and employment. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran status or any other factor which cannot lawfully be used as a basis for an employment decision.

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