Director-System Quality

The salary range for this position is $66.68 - $90.02 (Hourly Rate)

Placement within the salary range is dependent on several factors such as relevant work experience and internal equity. For positions represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range is guided by the rules outlined in the collective bargaining agreement.

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section located at jobs.nm.org/benefits to learn more.

Northwestern Medicine is powered by a community of colleagues who are purpose-driven and committed to our mission to deliver world-class care. Here, you'll work alongside some of the best clinical talent in the nation leading the way in medical innovation and breakthrough research with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

We recognize where you've been, and we support where you're headed. We celebrate diverse perspectives and experiences, which fuel our commitment to equity and culture of service.

Grow your career with comprehensive training and development opportunities, mentorship programs, educational support and student loan repayment.

Create the life you envision for yourself with flexible work options, a Reimbursable Well-Being Fund and a Total Rewards package that support your physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being.

Make a difference through volunteer opportunities we offer in local communities and drive inclusive change through our workforce-led resource groups.

From discovery to delivery, come help us shape the future of medicine.

Description

The Director, System Quality reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.
Responsible for leading organizational quality efforts in support of NM and operating unit strategic goals. Functional areas of responsibility include strategic and operational quality planning, assuring effective and integrated operations of the clinical quality/patient safety division across the operating units, collaborating with local clinical quality directors and other system functions across NM to evaluate and improve performance, and integrating system wide data to analyze performance, trends, and opportunities. Take operating accountability for system-wide data and quality performance integration, system-wide quality committees/strategies/functioning, external rankings, and quality equity program. Prepare accountability reports for Board of Directors and system senior leaders. Leads the development, implementation, monitoring, and achievement of the short and long term NMHC and operating unit Quality Plans. Responsibilities are anticipated to evolve over time to encompass other system wide functions (e.g., data abstraction/submission, Leapfrog Submission)

Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with NM system leaders, develop, implement, manage, and achieve the Long-Range Quality and Patient Safety Plan and other supporting plans.
• Build and manage a flexible, innovative, responsive team in alignment with system priorities with emerging portfolio with dynamic roles. Manage and support the NMHC Quality Committee which oversees and governs quality and patient safety for the health system.
• Implement, direct, support Health System Quality Collaboratives and Committees to advance quality, patient safety and related goals and plans. Collaborate in advancing the work of system functions across NM. Implement surveillance and reporting to identify areas of concern and strength. Monitor internal and external trends to identify priorities.
• Develop reports, materials, and support for Board of Directors Quality Committee and other Boards, related to quality goals, progress, and challenges.
• Assure and support appropriate public transparency and reporting of quality data including the external performance results, brand marketing and strategic planning and response plan.
• Plan, lead and direct improvement initiatives, innovation, and transformation activities. Serve as intake and triage point for system wide or multi-site quality initiatives.
• Design, lead, implement, and monitor NM quality and safety practices, policies, protocols, and methodologies.
• Assure compliance with all relevant policies related to CMS public reporting and payment programs.
• Support quality operations through development and maintenance of appropriate policies, procedures, onboarding, and professional development programming.
• Collaborate effectively across system functions to integrate or build processes, including but not limited to directors and managers of Quality, Clinical Documentation, Performance Improvement, Analytics, Information Services, Health Informatics, Community Health Institute and Office of Health Equity, Population Health/Workforce Health and Safety, Human Resources, Chief Medical Officers, Chief Nursing Executives, Operations Executives. Advance the standard of quality and safe patient care across NM through innovation, learning and shared deployment of best practices.
• Design, manage and optimize the quality equity program including strategic planning, implementation methodology, internal measurement, and external performance. Recruit, train, and manage staff to advance quality equity program.
• Assist in recruitment, orientation, and support local site quality directors.
• When circumstances permit, recruit, oversee and mentor students (undergraduate, graduate students, pre-med, etc.) on relevant projects.
• When circumstances permit, provide education and training to NM staff, clinical leaders and students and trainees in NU McGaw Medical Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Kellogg, Segal Design Institute, School of Professional Studies, etc. as related to the NM quality and safety program.
• When circumstances permit, contribute to national understanding of quality through publication and presentations. Partner with faculty to publish and teach as relevant and appropriate.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field (RN, RPh, health administration, public health, etc.)
• Master’s degree in relevant field (or equivalent experience and demonstrated ability)
• 3+ years of experience leading clinical quality and patient safety, including evidence of effective improvement initiatives
• Leadership, personnel management, and change management skills
• Project management, facilitation, and analytical skills
• Statistics, quantitative and analytic skills relevant to the role
• High level of energy and enthusiasm; flexible/adaptable – ability to work with diverse group of healthcare professionals in a matrix environment
• Effective problem solving and multi-tasking, verbal, and written communication skills

Preferred:

• 5+ years of relevant experience
• CPHQ, CPPS, or similar certification or evidence of professional commitment
• Experience with External Ratings, Rankings, and CMS and Joint Commission Quality measurement and programs
• Research competencies/background and/or published work

Equal Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

If we offer you a job, we will perform a background check that includes a review of any criminal convictions. A conviction does not disqualify you from employment at Northwestern Medicine. We consider this on a case-by-case basis and follow all state and federal guidelines.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.