Transfusion Medicine Safety Officer

Versiti is a fusion of donors scientific curiosity and precision medicine that recognize the gifts of blood and life are precious. We are home to the world-renowned Blood Research Institute which houses over 30 basic translational and clinical researchers. We enable life saving gifts from our donors and provide the science behind the medicine through our diagnostic laboratories. Versiti brings together outstanding minds with unparalleled experience in transfusion medicine transplantation stem cells and cellular therapies oncology and genomics diagnostic lab services and medical and scientific expertise. This combination of skill and knowledge results in improved patient outcomes higher quality services and reduced cost of care for hospitals blood centers hospital systems research and educational institutions and other health care providers. At Versiti we are passionate about improving the lives of patients and helping our healthcare partners thrive.

The annual number of blood donors across Versiti is more than 500000 and this blood is supplied to more than 240 hospital partners across the Versiti footprint.

The Medical Sciences Institute at Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin in Milwaukee WI seeks an enthusiastic ambitious and team-oriented staff to join our TxMD team at Versiti This individual under the direction of the Program Director and in collaboration with MSI Transfusion Medicine (TM) Medical Directors will serve in a unique consultative role to provide transfusion medicine support services to contracted hospitals in the areas of but not limited to patient blood management blood utilization serologic testing and transfusion service operations.

Duties include a variety of tasks to support contracted hospitals and build positive customer relationships. Tasks include assist in development of procedures and processes to promote efficient workflows and ensure regulatory compliance identify areas of transfusion-related process improvements to align with best practices and collect and track performance metrics and blood utilization data.
The successful applicant will have demonstrated a commitment to continuous learning and professional development. He/She will work collaboratively with the hospital customers to foster continuous improvement and innovation; serve as a liaison between Versiti Hospital Relations and TM physicians; and be an active resource to hospital nurses clinicians and laboratory staff on various transfusion medicine topics.

Successful applicants will also have the opportunity to participate in client hospital transfusion committees and cross-functional teams and provide educational materials and programs for hospital and Versiti staff.

Benefits
Versiti provides a comprehensive benefits package based on your job classification. Full-time regular employes are eligible for Medical Dental and Vision Plans Paid Time Off (PTO) and Holidays Short- and Long-term disability life insurance 7% match dollar for dollar 401(k) voluntary programs discount programs others.

• Provide transfusion medicine support services and consultative guidance as specified in the hospital agreement in the areas of but not limited to blood inventory management blood utilization blood administration transfusion service operations or quality assurance.
• Collaborates with hospital and/or laboratory personnel to evaluate blood product management strategies and/or transfusion service operations policies and processes offering recommendations to align with best practices. Assists hospitals in establishing policies processes and/or procedures in the area of transfusion medicine to promote uniform practice following evidence-based guidelines and to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and accreditation standards. Areas of involvement may include but not limited to blood administration blood inventory management and utilization quality assurance activities audit and event reporting operational workflows or procedural and policy development.
• Assists hospital customers in identifying areas of transfusion related process improvements to align with best practices reduce cost and/or improve patient safety. For those areas identified work on the hospital team as project leader and/or key member for successful execution and implementation. Assists hospitals and laboratories in establishing tracking auditing and analyzing data on key performance metrics for quality control or assurance program blood utilization reporting and/or transfusion practices.
• Offers recommendations based on data available to address areas of concern related to transfusion practices to improve patient safety treatment efficacy testing efficiency and reduce cost.
• Serves as a resource to nurses clinicians and laboratory staff related to patient blood management blood administration transfusion related safety issues and/or transfusion service operations.
• Plans and provides educational programs for physicians nurses laboratory scientists and/or other hospital staff on transfusion related topics. Collaborates with hospital and laboratory personnel on transfusion related incident/reaction reporting and recommends improvements as appropriate.
• Works with customer hospital laboratory staff to develop plan and manage hospital transfusion service-related projects.
• Actively participates on client hospital transfusion committees and cross-functional teams as needed. Establishes and maintains effective professional relationships. Promotes positive customer relationships between hospital customer and key blood center departmental and functional leaders including Medical Directors Information Systems and Hospital Relations team members leveraging their expertise to deliver the highest level of expertise and support to hospitals.
• Keeps current with changes in transfusion medicine through the review of published guidelines standards and literature on blood product use blood transfusion techniques alternatives to transfusion transfusion service operations and serologic/molecular testing assays as appropriate.
• Serves as a resource both internally and externally for questions related to transfusion practice patient blood management blood product utilization and/or transfusion service operations as applicable.
• Supports mission vision and values as well as departmental goals and objectives.
• Maintains required records reports and files pertaining to areas of responsibility. Responsible for maintaining strict confidentiality of information and records at all times.
• Participates in clinical research related to transfusion medicine and transfusion practice.
• Displays commitment to continuous learning and professional development through attendance at professional seminars/meetings as well as through self-directed learning. Maintains membership in appropriate professional organizations.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties in this job classification
• Understands and performs in accordance with all applicable regulatory and compliance requirements
• Complies with all standard operating policies and procedures

Education

• Bachelors Degree from an accredited college or university in a scientific or health care field required

Experience

• 4-6 years Hospital or related health care environment with experience in transfusion medicine either in transfusion service operations or administration of blood products required
• 1-3 years Management or leadership experience preferred
• 1-3 years Training or teaching experience preferred
• 1-3 years Quality assessment process improvement and/or project management experience preferred

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of transfusion practice and/or technical aspects of transfusion service operations and familiarity with hospital laboratory information systems and patients medical records (both paper and electronic) required
• Demonstrated interpersonal verbal and written communication skills including coaching and teaching; ability to communicate with and relate to all levels of the hospital health care team required
• Demonstrated ability to effectively lead/manage projects in team setting required
• Ability to prioritize organize manage and complete multiple tasks within designated deadlines with ability to shift priorities with little advanced notice required
• Computer skills including word processing spreadsheets presentation preparation and database software programs required
• Proficiency in data management and in producing graphs charts and presentations required
• Must be able to independently travel to hospital sites within service area; must possess valid drivers license and access to a vehicle if driving required
• Familiarity with continuous improvement (Lean Six Sigma etc.) based on primary role responsibilities experience with immunohematology testing used in hospital transfusion service operations preferred

Licenses and Certifications

• RN - Registered Nurse - State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure upon hire required
• and/or Certified Medical Lab Scientist-ASCP upon hire required
• and/or Specialist in Blood Banking upon hire required

Tools and Technology

• Personal computer required
• Laboratory/Blood bank and hospital computer systems required

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