Patient Safety Specialist
R&K Enterprise Solutions, Inc. (R&K) is a certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business
(SDVOSB) with core capabilities in Mission Support, Engineering and Logistics, Cybersecurity and
Intelligence, Environmental and Emergency Management, Exercise and Training, and Defense Healthcare in support of our Defense, Intelligence, and Federal Civilian customers.
R&K supports the Defense Health Agency (DHA). The Chief of Air Force Patient Safety has responsibility within the DHA for managing the Air Force (AF) Patient Safety Program (PSP). The AF PSP is dedicated to providing safe, effective, evidence-based healthcare to beneficiaries. It seeks to develop a healthcare organization where proactive risk identification, data-driven assessment, and reliable processes are the foundation for safe care. R&K supports the AF PSP by providing expertise and assistance in accomplishing the PSP objectives within DHA, AF Major Commands (MAJCOM) and Military
Treatment Facilities (MTF).
R&K supports DHA by providing highly qualified and experienced patient safety professionals at numerous MTFs and by providing training and training materials to foster a workplace-based safety cultural transformation, guided by our experts in patient safety.
Title: Patient Safety Specialist (PSS)
Location: Los Angeles AFB, CA
Duration: Permanent / Full-Time
Clearance: Tier 1 (NACI) Investigative Clearance / Background Investigation
Start Date: Upon Approval
Duties: The PSS will perform project management, program integration, administrative, clinical, educational, and research components duties as they relate to executing a comprehensive PSP for the
DHA: Assist and advise the Government with the establishment and operation of the DHA PSP at the
MTF level. Serve as a member of Executive Staff and align with the Chief of Medical Staff (SGH). Work closely with MTF leadership to promote a data-driven culture of safety throughout the MTF. Identify, recommend, and aid in the implementation of Performance Improvement (PI) leading to the formulation of processes that facilitate safer care. In addition, make recommendations for organizational changes leading to safer patient care.
The PSS shall stay abreast of national patient safety initiatives and their impact on the AF PSP.
Administer day-to-day PSP operations in relation to aspects of inpatient, ambulatory care, and support functions. At the MTF level, PSSs will collaborate closely with the SGH, Quality Management (QM),
Risk Management (RM), Process Improvement (PI), and personnel working Trusted Care initiatives.
PSSs shall also be responsible for coordination of Root Cause Analyses (RCAs), Proactive Risk
Assessments (PRA), and other PS initiatives brought about by the event reporting and proactive risk assessment functions of the PSP.
PSS’s Tasks include:
Task 1: Assist with planning, developing, implementing, and coordinating a facility-based PSP that supports and advances DHA Strategic Healthcare safety and reliability objectives, in compliance with
AFI 44-119 PS Chapter, DoDM 6025.13/DHA-PM.
Task 2: Serve as the DHA PS Subject Matter Expert (SME) resource in the facility and provide advice to all levels of AF personnel to ensure proper implementation of the program.
Task 3: Conduct an annual appraisal of organization-wide PS activities, training status, policies, and procedures at the MTF. The appraisal will include a gap analysis and assessment of program effectiveness as measured against benchmarks established in conjunction with DHA PS staff. In cooperation with facility QM and RM, this report will also include highlights of recent PS PI activities, identify obstacles to success, and recommended actions necessary to close identified gaps, prioritized in order of risk to patient safety. Provide evaluation to the MTF leadership through a report to the Executive Committee and provide a copy to the DHA PS Workflow.
Task 4: Collaborate on items/issues related to event prevention, risk identification, risk assessment, and risk control with facility functions. These functions include, but are not limited to: Executive Committee of the Medical Staff (ECOMS), Nurse Executive Function (NEF), RM, QM, PI, Infection Prevention (IP),
Facilities Management (FM), Safety, Medical Logistics, Medical Equipment Management Office
(MEMO), Medical Equipment Repair Center (MERC), Information Management/Information
Technology (IM/IT), Education and Training (E/T), Pharmacy and Therapeutics, and Bioenvironmental
Engineering (BE).
Task 5: Report MTF patient safety events according to AFI 44-119 and DoDM 6025.13 manual/DHA-
PM. PSS shall analyze the reporting process and events, recommend appropriate actions, and consult with quality, risk, credentials and PI managers as appropriate.
Task 6: Collect, collate, analyze, and provide data from facility event reviews, CSAs, PRAs, and other sources via a variety of communication forums. Make recommendations and disseminate information to appropriate facility committees and individuals for PS improvement purposes.
Task 7: Collaborate with the facility RM on event analysis. Review Potentially Compensable Event
(PCE) cases for potential PS concerns. Collaborate and advise regarding any written items that may contain PS information requiring protection under Title 10 USC Chapter 55, Section 1102-
Confidentiality of Medical Quality Assurance Records: Qualified Immunity for Participants.
Task 8: Assist the facility with process improvement activities in support of the organizational safety and quality goals as it relates to patient safety. Collaborate with the facility PI manager on the use of analytical tools (e.g., flowcharting and statistical process control) in PS activities. Assist the facility PI manager in support of organizational safety and quality goals.
Task 9: Assist with the development, planning, and coordination of a comprehensive PS education program in support of DHA Patient Safety Goals. Educate all levels of MTF staff on the PSP, their role in creating safer, more reliable care, and processes for risk identification, assessment, and control. Elements of this program will include:
At the facility level, provide ongoing PS education to include new employee orientation, workplace-based refresher training, in-service training on key PS topics, and one-on-one consultations. Typical training topics might include: building a culture of PS, reliability, and accountability; implementing current
NPSGs; using PI tools for PS measurement, team training and application; important literature updates in
PS; and using the JPSR system for reporting PS events. Refresher Training – Conduct annual standardized PS education. Consult with MTF Education and Training office to ensure PS education for attendees is updated in the Competency Assessment Folder (CAF).
Task 10: PSS will prepare an FMEA/PRA every 18 months and assist MTF staff in the performance of PI projects as it relates to patient safety. PI projects performed using Lean Six Sigma, AFSO21, or other
AF/DHA approved methodologies are acceptable as per the current version of the AFI.
Task 11: PSS will assist Government personnel with implementing and monitoring The Joint Commission
(TJC) NPSGs within their facilities, annually.
Task 12: Provides Monthly Executive Report to MTF Commander.
Requirements: The candidate shall meet the following qualifications:
The candidate shall meet the following qualifications:
1. A Bachelor’s degree, preferably in a nursing or healthcare-related field.
2. Four (4) years of experience in healthcare or PS-related field, or equivalent. Experience in a civilian inpatient or outpatient medical facility is required. Military experience highly desired.
3. Basic skills in Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
4. The ability to work, organize time, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
5. The ability to pay attention to detail and to effectively communicate patient safety concepts to leadership and DHA staff.
6. Experience with patient safety aspects of healthcare accreditation (The Joint Commission)
(preferable). PSSs without such experience must become familiar with PS accreditation requirements.
7. Experience documented with performing Comprehensive Systemic Analyses (CSA) and
Proactive Risk Assessments (PRA). Knowledge in applying analytical and evaluative methods and techniques to a broad range of functional areas in commercial quality/performance improvement practices, highly desirable.
8. Baccalaureate level skills in written and oral communications, public speaking, and fosters positive interpersonal relationships.
9. The ability to attend the next available DHA Patient Safety Professional Course when a class is offered. The Government will pay for the class and travel when class slots are available via the
Travel CLIN.
10. The ability to work collaboratively with Risk Manager (RM) and Quality Manager (QM).
R&K Enterprise Solutions, Inc. is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer committed to cultural diversity and compliance. All qualified women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply for R&K job vacancies. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.