Quality Improvement Specialist

Job title - Quality Improvement Specialist

Location - Onsite - Seattle Admin office

Compensation - $80168.40- $90000/annual

Work at Evergreen Treatment Services and make a difference in our community!

• ETS has been working to transform the lives of individuals and their communities through innovative and effective addiction and social services in Western Washington for over 50 years. Learn more about our mission and values.
• Change begins within. We strive to foster and sustain a diverse and inclusive community within our organization. Find out how we are working to achieve racial equity health equity and community justice.
• Our Clinic Services and REACH teams bring critical professional expertise and heartfelt compassion to the work they do every day to serve our most vulnerable community members. Check out the compelling stories told by our participants and staff members that provide more information and a clear picture regarding our organizations essential work.

This dynamic position plays an important role in helping ETS accomplish our mission!

Job Summary:

• The Quality Improvement (QI) Specialist role is part of the Quality Improvement & Risk Management team that supports ETS mission by supporting and participating in oversight of behavioral health services provided in both Clinic Services and REACH through inspecting and evaluating processes procedures reported adverse events and adherence to applicable regulations and guidelines
• This role makes a critical difference at ETS by participating in the development and ongoing implementation of Quality Management work plan activities related to quality reviews adverse event management and compliance
• The QI Specialist reviews data identifies trends and communicates all adverse events to the Clinical Quality Improvement Program Manager (CQI PM). Additionally this role assists in training teams to reduce service quality related problems and increase awareness and understanding of culture of quality and participant safety
• The QI Specialist adheres to expectations of assignment and project ownership and this position is expected to stay current with trends in quality improvement patient safety and behavioral health practice transformation and integration
• The QI Specialist is expected to follow and champion principles of just culture by creating an environment of psychological safety impartiality and system focused approach to adverse event reviews and situations

What you contribute to this role Responsibilities:

• Help ETS succeed in carrying out our mission through working together with other staff to transform systems of harm and inequity to create different approaches to improving community health and safety through addressing substance use and homelessness
• Assist with the organization-wide initiative to reimagine our interconnectedness within our community to overcome the aspects of our society and organizational culture shaped by white supremacy and settler colonialism

Quality Improvement & Clinical Reviews

• Enhance quality and services through data-driven evaluation and recommendations aligned with performance metrics Create and maintain relevant policies and procedures
• Support Quality Committees and facilitate related processes and reporting
• Conduct and manage audits (internal and external) across service lines including data entry tool development and tracking corrective actions
• Participate in interrater reliability assessments and scoring standardization
• Execute internal reviews for documentation and quality compliance with regulatory and contractual standards
• Oversee and support external audits (on-site and hybrid) for licensing and regulatory adherence per internal audit support guidelines and agreements with internal stakeholders.
• Provide project management for patient safety initiatives under the oversight and guidance of CQI PM
• Prepare and deliver formal reports supports regulatory responses and reporting.

Adverse Event Reporting

• Provides specialized support in patient safety and adverse event evaluation
• Manage adverse events and grievances via paper and third-party platforms
• Conduct Root Cause Analyses Event Learning Reviews and produce Critical Incident Reviews and investigative reports
• Develop implement and monitor corrective action plans in collaboration with ETS leadership
• Analyze adverse event data to identify and prioritize issues requiring action
• Coordinate response workflows for serious clinical events including issue escalation and protocol adherence.
• Support patient safety initiatives through project coordination reporting and regulatory compliance.

Customer Service & Team Behaviors

• Work independently and collaboratively in evolving systems with minimal supervision
• Exercise impartiality and diplomacy in interactions with internal and external stakeholders
• Apply time management and communication skills to meet deliverables
• Foster a positive collaborative work environment and serve as a Just Culture ambassador.
• Lead change management and stakeholder engagement through strategic communication and training.

Note: New and/or different duties and responsibilities may be assigned to this job at any time.

What you bring to this role Qualifications:

Credential (License Certification Provider One etc.)

• Washington State Department of Health Licensed Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP) certification other relevant licensure or educational experience preferred
• Academic training in the social services field and in the areas of chemical dependency treatment is preferred

Education and/or Relevant and Lived Experience (if applicable):

• Minimum 5 years experience of working in direct patient care public health or a related field

Knowledge and Skills:

• An understanding of racial justice and social equity and a commitment to helping create an equitable environment for all ETS participants as well as fellow staff.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with participants and staff from a wide variety of ethnic socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds
• Ability to read and interpret general business correspondence policies and procedures referral information financial documentation and applicable government regulations
• Ability to write business letters uncomplicated reports instructions and procedures
• Ability to present information effectively and respond to questions from participants staff referral sources and the general public
• Ability to propose practical and compliant solutions and practice alternatives based on data obtained in audits and adverse events reports.
• Ability to observe and detect clinical patterns in adverse events and relate them to review (audit) findings.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written oral schedule or diagram format o Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where standardization may be limited. o Strong interpersonal skills and verbal/written communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize workload work independently and complete tasks timely and efficiently.
• Dependable able to work under pressure receptive to change willingness to learn cooperative approach to problem solving.
• Flexible respectful team player with excellent attention to detail. o Ability to maintain confidentiality and use discretion when handling highly sensitive information.
• Ability to set boundaries resolve conflict and de-escalate issues. o Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and proactive in adopting new technologies

Additional Essential Information:

Physical Conditions and Requirements:

• The employee is expected to be able to come to various ETS sites support in person audits and program monitoring activities provides staff in service trainings and participate in other quality improvement and participant safety activities.
• The employee may be exposed to illicit drug residues and fumes or other biohazardous materials when carrying out job functions. There is also potential for exposure to bloodborne pathogens. ETS will provide employees with appropriate training to limit the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Policies and procedures are in place addressing each item specifically.
• The employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger handle or feel objects tools or controls; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear; frequently required to stand walk and kneel; occasionally to climb balance or stoop; rarely to crouch or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close color and peripheral vision and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

Equipment Used:

• Computer photocopier fax machine and phone Inclusivity and Reasonable Accommodation:
• Evergreen Treatment Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin veteran or disability status.
• ETS will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with a disability so that they can perform the essential functions of a job unless doing so causes a direct threat to these individuals or others in the workplace and the threat cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodation or if the accommodation creates an undue hardship for ETS. We also seek to provide reasonable accommodation for the interview process.