Clinical Consultant, Physician Quality Improvement Program

Job Summary:

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Provincial Health Services Authority patient safety is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.
Reporting to the Manager, Physician Quality Improvement Program (PQI) and working closely with the Corporate Director, Business Planning and Decision Support, Physicians, Quality Directors and Leaders, and clinical staff of the PHSA agencies, the Clinical Consultant, Physician Quality Improvement program is responsible for all evaluation aspects of the PQI program, and for identifying, developing, analysing, and providing innovative responses to meet the decision-making needs of the PQI program and its partners. Responsibilities include: the creation and implementation of evaluations for the PHSA PQI program and the quality improvement initiatives it supports; the provision of liaison, consultative, and interpretative services to all levels of management and physicians; co-ordination of multiple sources of information and individuals to bring together the information required; and, detailed analysis of information including confidential data files, decision model development, and knowledge acquisition and re-engineering.

Duties/Accountabilities:

• Provides evaluation and information support and leadership related to the PQI program’s quality improvement work to various internal and external users of that information through expert analytical expertise, knowledge transfer, facilitation, and coaching.
• Responds to ad hoc requests for strategic and operational information in support of the PHSA Board, the PHSA PQI Steering Committee, the Specialist Services Committee, the Department of Quality, Safety, and Outcome Improvement, and various committees and working groups
• Provides leadership and development support for identification of performance indicators. Generates clinical performance indicators (including the provision of analyses and application of appropriate statistical methodologies) from information gathered from different departments. Identifies significant trends/discrepancies in data. Provides performance measurement analysis and recommendations for appropriate course of action to implement changes.
• Provides leadership for the creation and implementation of evaluation plans for the PHSA PQI program and the quality improvement initiatives supported through the program.
• Puts in place the necessary systems/tools to ensure that the PQI program and quality improvement projects are compliant with privacy standards.
• Assesses clients’ information needs and participates in the design and specification of information to be retrieved from clinical information systems. Provides assistance and support to clients in monitoring and interpreting utilization operating results by analysing variances and investigating causes.
• Provides leadership and advice to physicians, quality improvement teams, and clinical programs/departments to strategize and assess needs related to quality improvement initiatives. Collaborates with individuals from multiple disciplines and uses data to generate information that will identify areas for improvement and demonstrate the impact of quality improvement initiatives. Prepares narrative descriptions to enhance the information for internal and external partners including the Specialist Services Committee.
• Provides consultative services (including patient utilization, statistical, and costing information and analysis) to Executive, program managers, quality of care committees, accreditation teams, external consultants, and other organizations in support of strategic planning and decision-making, quality improvement, and accreditation processes.
• Provides best-practice and benchmarking information from national peers to physicians, quality improvement teams, and clinical and administrative managers. Analyses and explains activity and quality indicators, identifying opportunities for improvements in utilization management.
• Prepares confidential analytical reports and briefings for the Executive Team, as required, using information at the provincial and health-authority level in addition to corporate information sources.
• Prepares reports and briefs for external stakeholders, including the Specialist Services Committee.
• Works with Business Planning to provide clinical and costing information required for various projects. Ensures that program information is exchanged with the applicable business analysts.
• Provides formal education and training sessions on various decision support tools and software to physicians, Quality Directors, and other stakeholders across the PHSA and prepares relevant educational materials and formal presentations to be used in the sessions.
• Co-leads quality improvement projects with physicians, nurses, and program directors to ensure appropriate practices are tailored to meet the population health needs.
• Supervises designated staff by performing a variety of duties such as participating in the selection process, conducting performance reviews and addressing performance issues through intervention or counseling as required. Identifies development and training opportunities for staff and conducts related training and orientation requirements for department staff as required.
• Maintains awareness of current trends and issues related to health care through literature review, industry comparisons, benchmarking reviews, seminars and workshops as well as provincial and regional uses of quality, utilization, and financial information.

Qualifications:

A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Master’s Degree (PhD preferred), in a relevant area plus a minimum of eight (8) years recent related senior experience, preferably in a patient care or allied health management environment.
Knowledge of the Canadian health care information management standards such as the CIHI Discharge Abstract Databases, CIHI MIS Guidelines, and the CCHSA Information Management Accreditation Standards. Working knowledge of relational and multidimensional database applications and ability to quickly adapt to new technology. Intermediate understanding of database and report design. Ability to perform advanced data processing, analyses and reporting using a variety of software tools such as Access, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SPSS, statistical process control, and Crystal Reports.
Superior writing and presentation skills with experience in program and business case research and development. Superior analytical skills including the ability to comprehend complex issues, analyze related data/information, and present information in concise, meaningful ways. Ability to analyze operational problems and recommend innovative solutions. Customer-focused with ability to facilitate and encourage co-operation between diverse operational groups and skill sets. Demonstrated ability to work independently and under pressure on multiple projects simultaneously with little direct supervision, to organize workload, to set priorities, and to meet deadlines. Expertise in the area of quality improvement and utilization management including concepts, tools, methods and workload measurement. Ability to supervise. Demonstrated communications, leadership, change management, project management, facilitation, and coaching skills. Ability to communicate with users/clients in "their language" in order to properly understand the nuances of the requirements and negotiate effectively. Ability to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team and function effectively in a matrix-based organizational structure. Superb communication and project management skills. Ability to quickly learn new skills. Physical ability to perform the duties of the job.