Quality Specialist

Job Overview

Department/Unit:
Quality Management

Work Shift:

Day (United States of America)
Salary Range: $94,957.00 - $

The Quality Specialist guides department managers, teams, and staff in the analysis, management, and improvement of the organization’s processes and systems using continuous quality improvement (CQI) and Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) principles. The role supports regulatory requirements, manages authoritative clinical registries, leads or participates in performance improvement initiatives, and assists departmental managers in addressing clinical quality.

• Act as a clinical improvement change agent focusing on mortality review and applying CQI and PDCA tools.
• Build expertise in assigned regulatory, registry, or internal quality measures, understanding abstraction rules, vendor tools, data submissions, and reporting deadlines.
• Perform independent chart audits and data reviews for assigned CMS or Leapfrog measures and registries.
• Support and attend mortality and morbidity review meetings, ensuring follow-up and closure of all case referrals and issues.
• Collaborate with Risk Management staff and physician subject matter experts to communicate documentation gaps and improvement opportunities.
• Apply CQI and PDCA concepts in data collection, analysis, and reporting for continuous improvement.
• Maintain knowledge of AMC LEAN (Green Belt or higher) and other quality improvement methodologies.
• Use clinical performance improvement applications (e.g., mortality collections, Vizient SI, Qlik View) and liaise with Clinical Informatics for system support.
• Lead subgroups, facilitate consensus, and collaborate with the Assistant Director for escalation and resolution.
• Perform real‑time and retrospective chart reviews for applicable patients.

• Adhere to high ethical standards and AMC policies.
• Analyze regulatory rules and documentation, documenting findings accurately.
• Create and present policy, procedure, and practice documents.
• Delegate and coordinate work assignments with support staff.

• Establish relationships across services and departments to identify improvement opportunities.
• Communicate effectively, listening, engaging, and facilitating interactions.
• Influence through evidence‑based practice and document successes.
• Lead subgroups and manage conflict resolution when needed.

• Perform basic mathematical calculations and apply statistical methods.
• Utilize experimental design, descriptive and inferential statistics for reporting and evaluation.

Regular standing, walking, typing, and handling of objects. Requires extended periods at a desktop computer with moderate to low office noise. Vision demands include close, distance, peripheral, depth perception, and the ability to read small print.

• Current Registered Nurse (RN), Nurse Practitioner (NP), Physician Assistant (PA), or Physician credentials (MD/DO).
• RN must hold a Master’s degree or higher.
• Minimum six years of health‑care experience or six years in a full‑time performance‑improvement role (e.g., LEAN or Six Sigma).
• Preferred additional education or certifications in quality improvement or patient safety (e.g., CPHQ, CPHRM, Lean, Six Sigma).

• Excellent health care coverage with no copay at Albany Medical Center providers.
• Wide array of services and programs supporting emotional, physical, and mental wellbeing.

Albany Med Health System is an equal opportunity employer. This role may require access to sensitive information under HIPAA and New York State statutes. Workforce members must follow the “need to know” principle, safeguarding data confidentiality and integrity.