Patient Safety and Risk Lead

Position Type:
Permanent
*

Closing date:

Emergency Medical Care Inc. (EMC) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Medavie Health Services (MHS) that manages and operates ground ambulance, air medical transport and the medical communications operations in Nova Scotia through a performance-based contract with the provincial government's Emergency Health Services (EHS) Operations division and the Department of Health and Wellness. As well, EMC operates TeleHealth/811 medical communications for Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island for the Department of Health.

We access all communities in Nova Scotia in a timely and efficient manner with our fleet of more than 180 ambulances and support vehicles operating out of 60+ stations. We respond to 165,000+ calls annually across the province, which are actively managed through the EHS Operations Medical Communications Centre, the hub of all emergency (911) and non-emergency (hospital transfers) medical calls.

The EHS Operations LifeFlight program provides even greater accessibility by responding to patients on scene or through inter-facility transports by our critical care team via helicopter, fixed wing, or ground ambulance.

In addition, paramedics in Nova Scotia participate in various programs both urban and rural such as community-based paramedic programs, collaborative emergency centres, and emergency preparedness and special operations, to name a few.

There are lots of opportunities waiting for you in Nova Scotia. Apply now to learn more about our service and available positions.

Reporting to the Manager of Risk and Patient Safety, the incumbent shall be responsible for supporting Emergency Medical Care's Patient Safety and Patient Experience initiatives delivered through the division with a focus on the EHS system.

The Patient Safety and Risk Lead is a leadership position with an overall goal of fostering a culture of patient and family centered care, while ensuring an organizational focus on patient safety. As a specialist in patient safety, the incumbent shall be responsible for identifying, monitoring, investigating and mitigating patient safety risks, while ensuring sustained risk management and safe practices for EHS patients and families. The accomplishment of this will be through leading both prospective and retrospective analyses using existing methodology for incident analysis, quality reviews and failure mode and effects analyses (FMEA). Related investigations would be conducted through the Issues Management (IM) program which would include database management, conducting investigations, completing case files and tracking mitigation loop closure through system-level recommendations.

As an employee of Emergency Medical Care (EMC) we are accountable to our patients and coworkers by participating in and supporting all safety related initiatives, as well as acting in a manner that fosters a culture that focuses on patient safety and a safe workplace.

Patient Safety Issues Management

• Monitor and report on all occurrences and inquiries which impact patient safety. Work closely with the Risk Management Team and responsible managers to ensure Issues Management (IM) files are opened and assigned as appropriate.
• Take the lead investigator role for IM cases as assigned for patient safety issues. Gather data and information as required, such as electronic patient care records, statements, pictures, dispatch audio, etc.
• Lead detailed interviews with front line staff when required related to reviewed cases.
• Lead independent reviews, inter-divisional quality reviews, and/or structured incident analyses (RCA) for patient safety investigations depending on severity of the incident, ensuring system learning from each occurrence.
• Author, monitor, distribute and ensure the completion of recommendations made post analysis of patient safety related investigations.
• Author reports submitted to senior leadership based on the patient safety investigations completed.
• Follow-up and effectively communicate a summary of findings to patients and/or family members who are involved in a service inquiry, or related to care which was reviewed through the Issues Management Program.

Prospective Risk Analysis

• Act as the organization's specialist for prospective risk analysis to ensure sustained risk management and safe practices that align with EMC's strategic plan.
• Lead the organization through Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) for projects and/or initiatives identified through the Business Transformation Office, or other internal partners.
• Author reports submitted to senior leadership based on an FMEA exercise, summarizing risks and recommendations.
• Follow-up on, and coordinate recommendations made through an FMEA analysis. Work directly with divisional leaders to ensure the completion of recommendations identified through this process.

Patient Experience and Relations Subject Matter Expert

• Act as an organizational specialist for patient experience and engagement.
• Support the organization in improving the patient experience, e.g. through the Patient and Family Partnership Council.
• Liaise with patient and family partners, acting as the key point person on behalf of EMC.
• Make contact, and act as the EMC representative for patients and/or family members who are involved in a service inquiry, or related to care received within the EHS system.
• Collaborate with EMC leaders in the development of appropriate organizational patient safety policy, guidelines and other documentation.
• Participate in key committees, providing support from a patient safety and experience perspective, including but not limited to: ePCR Advisory, Continuous Quality Improvement, Privacy Management Committee, Equipment Standards and Joint Occupational Health and Safety (JOHS).
• Act as a patient safety and experience liaison internally and externally on program and policy implementation.
• Actively participate in or facilitate committee work related to patient safety and experience.
• Collaborate with EHS, LifeFlight and Telehealth managers, supervisors and operations and support personnel to ensure the integration of patient safety and experience organizationally.

Patient Safety Education

• Ensure the knowledge translation of system findings for patient safety related concerns managed through the portfolio.
• Lead and deliver education through blended learning methods with front line staff both virtually, and in-person on patient safety and the patient experience.
• Collaborate with Interprofessional Practice and Learning to present patient safety related information on Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) sessions, with a focus on educating front-line staff on system-level patient safety concerns.
• Lead the organization through Patient Safety Week, preparing both internal and external content to educate annual-based patient safety information.

Though not required, the incumbent is strongly encouraged to identify opportunities for process and system improvement in partnership with interdepartmental business leaders and the Manager, Risk and Patient Safety.

Qualifications:

Education

• Undergraduate degree in a health related discipline. An equivalent combination of education and experience acceptable to the employer will also be considered.

• Licensed to work or ability to gain licensure in Nova Scotia as a paramedic or other regulated health professional an asset.

Experience

Progressive leadership experience in healthcare is required.

• Prior experience and/or certification in patient safety or patient experience is preferred (e.g., Patient Safety Officer, Failure Modes, and Effects (FMEA) experience).
• Experience and/or education in quality improvement science is an asset.
• Experience in customer service and client relations is considered an asset.
• Experience in committee leadership is strongly preferred
• Clinical experience considered an additional asset.

Certifications

• Lean, Six Sigma, Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) or equivalent certifications preferred

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to exercise independent judgment and problem solve with discretion.
• Excellent written, oral, and presentation skills.
• Experience in conflict management, meeting facilitation, analysis, problem solving, organizational acuity, tact, diplomacy, interpersonal and time management is required.
• Computer literacy is required, including, and understanding of Microsoft office applications.
• Experience with electronic patient care records and medical communications data required.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and a sound knowledge of EHS operations policies required.
• Knowledge of relevant privacy legislation and experience handling confidential information
• Ability to perform risk identification and analysis.
• Experience with database management and utilization strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of EMS management, information technology, and human resources practices an asset.

Language

• English proficiency required
• Other languages an asset; French preferred

The employee may be exposed to traumatic information, including interactions with distressed patients or members of the public. This role requires a high level of mental resilience and the ability to manage emotional stress effectively.

The employee will spend various periods of sitting, standing, walking, crouching, lifting, and / or carrying light objects. The employee is required to maintain one position for possible long periods of time, such as sitting at meetings, or at a desk setting. The employee will be reading data or inputting data, report writing, operating a word processor, computer, calculator, and talking on the telephone. The employee will use and have exposure to general office equipment such as fax, photocopier, printer, and personal computer. The exposure to low to moderate noise levels.

Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative of the citizens we serve. We are committed to building an inclusive team that represents a variety of backgrounds, cultures, races, perspectives and skills. We encourage applications from all qualified candidates including women, persons of any sexual orientations and gender identities and/or expressions, Indigenous persons, African Canadians, other racialized groups, persons with disabilities. Candidates who identify as being from any of these groups are encouraged to voluntarily self-identify.