Improvement Advisor - RN

Improvement Advisor

Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America's heartland. This position supports Clinical Quality in the hospital setting of Marshfield Medical Center. Bachelor's of Science in Nursing preferred. It focuses on assessing, monitoring, tracking, and implementation of performance improvement plans to improve the safety of inpatient care related to healthcare acquired conditions (HAC) and CMS Patient Safety Indicator (PSI) measures (i.e., peri/postoperative complications, HAC pressure injuries, falls with fracture, HAC pneumonia, sepsis, mortality review, etc). This is a full-time position, with some flexibility in hours and onsite/work from home capability. No weekends, on-call, or holidays.

The Improvement Advisor works with leadership to organize, assist, and coordinate planning and implementation of systematic, organization-wide approaches to improving outcomes. The Improvement Advisor will support corporate and local strategic plans that achieve high impact and significant improvements in organizational performance by providing oversight to performance improvement components and activities. The advisor must have demonstrated ability in problem solving, critical thinking, conflict management, and team building skills in order to ensure a productive work environment and achievement of goals. The responsibilities of the advisor include data and project management, analytical reasoning, interpreting and evaluation of complex information, identifying patterns and essential issues, while measuring and evaluating the attainment of results. The advisor is also responsible for utilizing and teaching process improvement methodologies to support informed decision making for operational efficiencies and effectiveness that align with system strategies. Knowledge of and conformance to regulatory requirements, contractual obligations, and the organizations policies is essential, along with the ability to maintain confidentiality of sensitive information. Serves as communication link and resource person regarding performance improvement and patient safety for departments and management throughout the organization. Understands and communicates quality and safety priorities as they relate to high reliability and value based care. Analyzes data to identify areas of opportunity for improvement efforts. Ability to write and verbally communicate in a legible and understandable manner, have strong computer skills, possess the ability to make independent and timely decisions when circumstances warrant, and possess the ability to demonstrate interpersonal skills, such as interacting effectively with other health care professionals, physicians, upper-level management, regulatory agency staff, and the general public. Other desired traits of the Advisor include familiarity with the basic tools of robust process improvement, work process redesign, or re-engineering, knowledge of medicine and medical terminology, and ability to work with minimal supervision. Occasional evening and weekend hours, and potential for greater than 40-hour workweek when circumstances warrant.

Bachelor's degree required. In lieu of education, leadership may consider an Associate's degree and 5 years of applicable experience. If degree is in nursing, graduate from a nationally accredited nursing program preferred, including, but not limited to, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), and National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA). Minimum of two years experience in operational process improvement, clinical, or healthcare management setting preferred. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) or equivalent preferred. If a licensed registered nurse (RN), currently hold an unencumbered RN license with the State Board of Nursing where the practice of nursing is occurring and/or possess multistate licensure if in a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state. Obtains and subsequently maintains required department specific competencies and certifications. Quality improvement/assurance personnel with nursing backgrounds can maintain their license without seeking additional hours based on role's responsibilities. Other departments may or may not require certifications as directed by department leadership.