QUALITY ASSURANCE COORDINATOR HEALTH CARE FACILITY DEFINITION:
Under direction, develops, coordinates, and implements a facility-wide quality assurance program aimed at identifying and correcting patient care problems; does related work as required.
NOTE: The definition and examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.
EXAMPLES OF WORK:
Develops, implements, and monitors a written facility-wide quality assurance plan.
Attends all medical staff and hospital committee meetings where quality assurance activities are discussed and documents quality assurance matters.
Establishes and implements a continuous patient information system for facility-wide use to ensure that quality patient care services are being provided.
Ensures the confidentiality of persons affected by the information system.
Organizes data into a systematic medical information system to promote efficiency and conformance with quality assurance plans, goals, and objectives.
Advises medical staff and committees about what data and information is available, reliable, and obtainable to aid in monitoring and evaluations by federal, state, local, institutional, and accrediting agencies.
Develops a centralized clearing house for quality assurance information and disseminates information to appropriate areas.
Provides direction to the medical staff and facility management department to ensure that quality assurance goals and objectives are being met.
Recommends changes in the health care facility's policies, procedures, and medical staff practices to conform with changes in legal requirements.
Recommends evaluations and studies for quality assurance compliance.
Recommends additional activities and modification of existing program.
Analyzes information from both internal sources and external agencies.
Offers educational and technical assistance on quality assurance functions.
Monitors problem resolution.
Prepares problem reports.
Completes and maintains a problem status log.
Requests followup information on problems.
Reports status of identified problems to administration.
Consults with medical, clinical, and ancillary staffs on problems to establish priority and need for further investigation or immediate action.
Coordinates all quality assurance activities to ensure proper communication, focus on existing or potential problems, and to prevent duplication among all phases of the program.
Investigates, plans, and recommends action or implements action related to patient care.
Reviews, monitors, and communicates complete and current knowledge of internal and external standards, policies, and rules and regulations related to patient care.
Coordinates plans to correct problems uncovered by external legal, regulating, and/or accrediting bodies.
Monitors the important aspects of patient care and service delivery on an ongoing basis.
Establishes goals, objectives, and plans to guide the development and implementation of a quality assurance program for patient care.
Provides guidance to hospital department representatives and hospital committees on the development of quality assurance procedures.
Analyzes data from various hospital departments and services on quality of patient care to evaluate the quality assurance program.
Acts as liaison to the hospital, medical, and nursing staff, and outside agencies to ensure effectiveness of the quality assurance program.
Reads and analyzes current facility and state standards for delivery of patient care.
Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
REQUIREMENTS:
NOTE: Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience.
Seven (7) years of professional experience in the monitoring and evaluation of patient care services in a health care facility or seven (7) years of clinical or supervisory experience in providing direct patient care services in a health care facility.
OR
Possession of a current and valid registration as a professional nurse in the State of New Jersey; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience.
OR
Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned experience.
NOTE: "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.
LICENSE:
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
Knowledge of principles and procedures required to perform quality assurance studies in a health care facility.
Knowledge of laws, regulations, responsibilities, standards, policies, and programs of state, federal, and accrediting agencies related to quality assurance systems.
Knowledge of modern program evaluation practices including the establishment and monitoring of a thorough, effective management information system.
Knowledge of quality assurance and utilization review principles and methods.
Knowledge of medical records requirements.
Knowledge of Medicare and Medicaid regulations and requirements.
Knowledge of modern health care, institutional organization, administration, and the laws applicable to health care procedures.
Knowledge of administrative problems involved in meeting government requirements for patient care, optimum use of health care facilities, and discharge planning.
Knowledge of conducting surveys, compiling statistical information, and preparing reports.
Knowledge of techniques involved in analyzing data collection forms, methods, procedures, and their application to problem solving.
Knowledge of the preparation and maintenance of accurate medical and other records.
Ability to organize assigned work and develop effective work methods.
Ability to interpret rules and regulations of different government agencies.
Ability to work effectively and harmoniously with department heads, professional staff, associates, and representatives of other agencies.
Ability to conduct surveys, compile statistical information, and prepare reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
Ability to speak and write effectively.
Ability to maintain essential records and files.
Ability to establish quality assurance standards consistent with state, federal, and accrediting agency mandates.
Ability to supervise a staff in quality assurance, in establishing and monitoring a management information system, and in performing both long and short-range planning.
Ability to analyze and interpret basic laws and regulations and to apply these to specific problems.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative work relationships with federal, state, and local officers, physicians, and the representatives of local health, welfare, education, and civic groups.
Ability to compose detailed correspondence and to prepare clear, sound, accurate, and informative reports on mental health programs.
Ability to direct the establishment and maintenance of essential records and files.
Ability to conduct workshops, study groups, and other training activities in quality assurance.
Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
