Project Management/Quality Specialist

Job Summary: The Project Management/Quality Specialist at Schuyler Hospital is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, implementation, execution, control, and completion of specific projects and quality goals, ensuring consistency with company strategy, commitments, and goals. This role involves working closely with healthcare professionals, department heads, and external stakeholders to enhance operational efficiency, patient care, and service delivery. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in project management, formal/informal leadership, exceptional organizational skills, and a solid understanding of the healthcare industry.

The role will be responsible for the coordination of activities that fall under the Performance Optimization umbrella (Infection Control & Prevention, Patient Relations, Quality, Performance Improvement, Regulatory and Risk Management) under the Project Management Office at Cayuga Health System with a primary assignment at Schuyler Hospital. The position reports to the Cayuga Health System Director of Project Management. The position has a dotted line reporting to the Assistant Vice President of Operations for Schuyler Hospital and may receive direction from this role as it pertains to the priority of the site. The Specialist will assist in daily operations of the department and support the management of the patient experience program while engaging members throughout SH in performance improvement.

The role will be the primary contact for Patient Relations and will serve as the entity's official Patient Advocate for both inpatient and outpatient departments on SH's campus. Under Patient Relations, the duties will include, but are not limited to, receiving department correspondence, speaking to patients, following up on concerns with appropriate stakeholders, meeting regulatory deadlines associated with formal responses to complaints/grievances, orientation and special education.

This role will be responsible in collaborating with operational leaders across Schuyler Hospital, Seneca View, and Schuyler Hospital's Outpatient Departments to improve external quality measures/programs like PlaneTree designation, Leapfrog Hospital Grade, Critical Access Hospital Top Lists, and other strategic priorities, etc. In order to maintain alignment, this role collaborates with the Director of Quality Outcomes for the Patient Experience & Quality Brand Programs (i.e. - CAH PI Collaborative and work with Stroudwater Associates) and the Manager, Clinical Risk & Regulatory for Patient Relations requirements and standards.

CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

In addition, this position will be responsible for reviewing patient's utilization records and use nationally recognized standards of care guidelines to evaluate hospital admissions, length of stay, and assure the level of care is medically necessary and at the most appropriate level. This position will analyze utilization and quality trends and make recommendations to management on improvement opportunities.

This position will perform basic analysis of data and will create, prepare, and deliver reports to various departments as directed by the Quality and Safety priorities for Schuyler Hospital. Under Quality and Performance Improvement, the duties will include, but are not limited to, creating and executing risk assessments, sharing information from risk assessments and incidents with respective committees, implementing/sustaining unit/department huddles to sustain the high reliability program and assess/improve clinical regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

Required:

• Work Experience: At least 7+ years of relevant work experience with 10+ years in clinical or leadership positions

• Specific Skills: Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, excellent communication skills (verbal and written)

• Within 1 year of hire, the candidate must complete Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, which will be issued by Cayuga Health System

• Within 2 years of hire, the Specialist must obtain a Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Six Sigma Black Belt or similar project management certifications.

Preferred:

• Education: Bachelor's Degree, preferably in Business Administration or Healthcare Administration (Applicants with an acceptable combination of relevant experience and education that provides the required knowledge and abilities may be considered).

• Experience working with Quality, Data, Performance Improvement, Risk Management, Customer Relations, Medical Staff programs highly desirable

Skills, Knowledge, & Abilities: • Understanding of healthcare operations, regulatory requirements, and the unique challenges of the healthcare environment is highly beneficial • Excellent relationship management as well as project management skills • Strong written and oral communication skills • Critical thinking and creative problem solving • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple and sometimes competing priorities • Strong analytical skills and experience with data analysis, metrics, and reporting • Knowledge of quality and risk management principles.

Physical Demands:

• For physical demands of position, including vision, hearing, repetitive motion and environment.

• This will be a hybrid position with opportunities to work from home.