Clinical Improvement Specialist

This position supports Mercy's philosophy of patient centered care by assuring the incorporation of evidence-based guidelines and clinical research into the realms of practice across the health care continuum. Members of this team work collaboratively withexecutive leadership, administrators, managers, staff and physicians to identify, operationalize and hardwire improvements around the strategic clinical issues, resulting in the improvement of quantitative and qualitative outcomes for Mercy Medical Center's internal and external customers.

Job Duties

• Functions as a practitioner, educator, consultant, change agent, researcher, role model and patient advocate with an emphasis on patient centered care.
• Serves as a clinical expert for a specific patient population-enhancing patient centered care delivery.
• Demonstrates ability to improve hospital wide processes through data analysis and principles of research; including data collection, verification, analysis, interpretation and presentation
• Acts as a facilitator and consultant for hospital-wide councils engaging in best practice initiatives
• Facilitates and/or participates in the case review process where appropriate, utilizing standardized Root Cause Analysis methods to address "near miss" and adverse outcomes.
• Demonstrates fundamental knowledge of healthcare regulatory and licensing agency requirements and applies requirements in identifying, referring and problem solving
• Advises physicians and staff in current evidence-based clinical processes through effective role-modeling and education.
• Foster a level of effective communication to facilitate problem solving.
• Provides education to administrators, physicians, bedside nurses and managers on evidence-based practice and strategies developed at Mercy to ensure adherence to evidence-based practice.
• Develops standardization of clinical processes and initiatives across the organization in collaboration with members of the health care team
• Collaborates across the healthcare continuum to improve strategic outcomes and achieve excellence in state and national performance measures
• Remains current and competent in the use of evidence-based practice guidelines and research as they are released and/or published and is able to effectively communicate these to staff and physicians.
• Coordinates and develops standardized evidenced based protocols, guidelines and order sets
• Follows Mercy's safety guidelines, carries out job-specific safety duties and responsibilities, and promptly reports any unsafe conditions, situations, incidents and injuries.

Department Specific Duties

Clinical Improvement:

• Maintains and builds upon nursing skillset and workflow knowledge which may include providing direct patient care for a specific patient population.

Cardiac Catheterization:

• Leads program development, planning, organizing, implementation, assessment, patient flow, education and training for the Cardiac Cath Lab.
• Promotes standards of care to assure quality patient outcomes by researching evidence based practices as they relate to cardiac catheterization processes and procedures.
• Oversees the NCDR Cath PCI Registry including collecting and analyzing data.
• Works in collaboration with the Medical Director of the Cardiac Cath Lab and facilitates quality committee meetings.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrates effective analytical, critical thinking, creativity, communication and relationship building knowledge and skills.
• Demonstrates expert knowledge in area of specialty and exhibits a strong understanding of basic nursing principles and procedures.
• Basic proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 4 years clinical experience required.
• Minimum 4 years clinical experience in specialty area preferred.
• 2 years' experience analyzing data, creating new or modifying existing operational processes required.

Education

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in lieu of a degree required. Master's degree preferred.

Licensure, Certification, Registration

• Currently licensed to practice as a registered nurse in the state of Iowa required.
• Iowa Dependent Adult Abuse Mandatory Reporter training required. Employee must submit certification of completed training to Human Resources prior to start or transfer date.

Mercy is an independent, community-based organization supporting the Cedar Rapids area for over 120 years.

Mercy is an equal-opportunity employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion and therefore evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, parental status, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.