SUPERVISOR’S TITLE: Regional Director, Quality & Innovation
DEPARTMENT: Continuous Improvement
LOCATION: Various
DATE: July 2015
REVISED: July 2022, September 2023
HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY AREA: NW, NI and NE
SUMMARY OF THE ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES
The Quality Improvement Lead provides quality improvement leadership and support within the Health Service Delivery Area (HSDA). The Quality Improvement Lead supports the development and implementation of HSDA plans consistent with strategic and operational plans and standards. The Quality Improvement Lead supports the development of structures and processes to advance quality and patient safety at Northern Health. The Quality Improvement Lead also works with the Quality and Innovation Team to provide education and training on quality improvement methodologies and other principles, strategies, and tools used in the field of improvement science.
FUNCTIONAL REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
The Quality Improvement Lead reports to the Regional Director, Quality & Innovation and maintains a matrix reporting relationship with the HSDA Chief Operating Officer or Senior Operations Officer. The Quality Improvement Lead formally manages and supports a team of Quality Improvement Facilitators within the HSDA. The Quality Improvement Lead will work closely HSDA Project Implementation Lead to provide support to the HSDAs Operational Leadership Teams. The position will have a close working relationship with the HSDAs Health Service Administrators, Medical Director, and other senior leadership team members. The Quality Improvement Lead participates on the HSDA Senior Leadership Team and Quality Committees/Teams.
The position liaises and collaborates with a broad spectrum of Northern Health staff including senior and front- line managers/leaders and staff, Risk Management Office, Patient Care Quality Office, Planning and Performance Improvement, Infection Prevention and Control, Medical Affairs, Clinical Programs, and others as appropriate.
KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Quality Improvement Leadership
- Provides strategic leadership in the integration, implementation, evaluation, sustainment and spread of quality initiatives and practices to support and drive organizational improvement and transformational change.
- Directly supports the Chief Operating Officer and the Leadership Team of the HSDA in
- the identification and implementation of HSDA priorities for quality improvement and patient safety including applicable quality improvement measurement criteria and targets, consistent with strategic and operational plans and standards.
- the design, implementation, and sustainment of strategic initiatives and/or organizational and Ministry priorities.
- Works with HSDA and regional leadership to develop and strengthen structures and processes to support quality improvement and patient safety, including:
- Applying knowledge of quality improvement methodologies to execute improvement initiatives in a wide variety of settings.
- Facilitating participation of Northern Health staff in provincial and national quality improvement efforts as relevant (e.g. BC Patient Safety Quality Council, Canadian Patient Safety Institute).
- Provides leadership, direction, and support to a team of Quality Improvement Facilitators, fostering a high-performance culture including work planning, professional development, conflict resolution, recruitment, and performance management.
- Promotes and facilitates the application and utilization of Northern Health quality system tools (e.g., Patient Safety & Learning System, Patient Experience Surveys).
- Supports adherence to clinical practice standards and facilitates accreditation processes in the HSDA in collaboration with Northern Health accreditation Team Leads.
- Supports in the resolution of risk management issues and implementation of improvements arising from quality and patient safety reviews in collaboration with the Risk Management Office and Patient Care Quality Office. Facilitates quality reviews as appropriate.
Education and Training
- Builds capacity and promotes a culture of quality across the organization by:
- Provision of education and training of different quality methodologies and quality system development;
- Integrating accreditation principles and standards with local, regional, and organizational initiatives;
- Researching and promoting leading and promising practices in quality improvement and patient safety across the organization.
- Contributing to the development of the Northern Health Quality and Innovation strategy, workplans and evaluation.
- Promoting use of library, research, evaluation and policy resources at Northern Health.
- Participating in provincial and regional initiatives and committees related to quality, patient safety and process improvement as required.
Quality Improvement Analysis & Reporting
- Works with the Research, Evaluation, and Analytics and the NH Office of Strategy Management team to conduct analyses, reporting and evaluation on the performance of key indicators of quality, patient safety, risk management, and utilization management for operational leaders.
- Facilitates and promotes reporting, sharing and display of quality and risk measures at the HSDA, site and department levels.
- Provides leadership in the development and coordination and analysis of Patient Centred Measurement Surveys (provincial, regional and local). Facilitates review of results and supports actions and mentors staff and physicians to improve patient experience.
QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES
Education and Experience
- Masters degree in Business Administration, Health Care Administration, Public Administration or a related field and seven (7) to ten (10) years related experience related experience in quality and process improvement development, implementation and evaluation, preferably in a healthcare setting.
- Or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
- Training in Lean, Six Sigma, Model for Improvement and/or Quality Management (or similar) preferred.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Comprehensive knowledge of quality improvement principles, theory, and practice (E.g., Quality Management, Lean, Model for Improvement) including the application in healthcare settings.
- Demonstrated leadership capabilities to enable team members to achieve their own individual potential, as well as be successful in driving change within Northern Health.
- Desire to listen from a place of curiosity and communicate effectively
- Engages with team members and colleagues with empathy
- Integrates joy into the work environment
- Passion for working with diverse teams and individuals to creatively solve problems.
- Ability to see connections between issues, events and data points and to think clearly around complex systems, bridging community issues and regional and provincial activities to foster innovation and progress within a complex organization
- Ability to lead, guide, coach, and promote a continuous quality improvement learning environment, within the Quality & Innovation portfolio and across the organization.
- Facilitate dialogue, workshops, and training groups of different sizes
- Ability to foster collaborative partnerships using a team approach and building trusting relationships.
- High level of motivation with a positive attitude and agility in a rapidly changing and often ambiguous environment.
- Detail-orientated with strong organizational skills and experience in project and change management
- Ability to demonstrate awareness and understanding of the concepts and underlying principles of cultural safety and cultural humility and how they apply to Indigenous peoples.
- Ability and willingness to travel.
