QI Specialist; Registered Nurse

Job Title:

QI Specialist
Req:

Location:

VMC Main Campus, Renton, WA
Department:
Quality

Shift: Full Time
FTE: 1

Work Hours:

Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm (flexibility required)

Responsible for overseeing and enhancing the quality of care within the hospital for defined areas, populations, or clinical pathways. This includes analyzing clinical processes, implementing quality improvement initiatives, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards to improve patient outcomes and safety. Acts as a consultant on JC, DOH, CMS and other regulatory requirements.

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing or related health‑care field, or Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.);
  Master’s degree preferred.
• Current Registered Nurse or Registered Pharmacist license in Washington State (M.B.B.S. holders must be licensed in WA).
• Minimum three (3) years’ clinical experience in an acute‑care setting.
• Experience using electronic health record (EHR) systems.
• Demonstrated skills in project management, problem solving, decision making, and change management.
• Experience in quality management and performance improvement roles preferred.
• Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) preferred.

• Solid understanding of systems thinking, process management, and performance improvement.
• Strong organizational and problem‑solving abilities.
• Excellent facilitation skills; ability to foster open dialogue and collaborative problem‑solving.
• Ability to connect with frontline staff, communicate clear and concise information, and provide supportive feedback.
• Knowledge of group dynamics, leadership skills, and facilitation of performance improvement teams.
• Proficiency with quality improvement tools and methodologies; training in IHI Model for Improvement, Lean, Six Sigma, or Kaizen preferred.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple demands while maintaining confidentiality.
• Knowledge of regulatory standards (CMS, DOH, JC) and their interpretation.
• Strong oral and written communication skills for reports and presentations to physicians, leaders, and staff.
• Proficiency with Windows® and MS Office Suites® including Word, Excel, Visio, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to navigate quality‑related websites and data‑management vendors.

• Develop, implement, and oversee quality projects to improve patient care, reduce errors, and enhance operations.
• Apply the IHI Model for Improvement and facilitate quality improvement teams.
• Guide teams through the project lifecycle: planning, execution, and evaluation.
• Assist physicians and managers in data analysis and interpretation for decision‑making.
• Lead or co‑lead committees focused on quality, patient safety, and operational efficiency.
• Lead and participate in process redesign to streamline workflows.
• Promote a culture of safety and continuous improvement organization‑wide.
• Educate staff on quality management and performance improvement techniques.
• Ensure compliance with healthcare regulations, accreditation standards, and internal policies through audits and assessments.
• Abstract and analyze data from EHRs to meet monitoring requirements.
• Develop data‑collection strategies grounded in research principles.
• Analyze and interpret clinical data to assess performance metrics and trends.
• Report variations requiring corrective actions.
• Prepare and present reports on quality improvement outcomes to leadership and regulators.
• Meet timelines for performance‑measure data submission.
• Support the Medical Staff with performance‑measure data and peer‑review referrals.
• Build and maintain multidisciplinary relationships to foster collaboration.
• Engage patients, families, and stakeholders to integrate feedback.
• Network with peers and participate in community outreach and improvement collaboratives.
• Act as a clinical expert guiding program and policy implementation.
• Stay current with emerging trends, best practices, and technologies in quality improvement.
• Benchmark hospital performance internally and regionally to identify improvement opportunities.
• Navigate online resources (AHRQ, JC, CMS) for benchmarking.
• Support preparatory and facilitation of regulatory surveys.
• Assist in reviewing clinical practice policies, procedures, order sets, and protocols.
• Apply new insights to enhance learning and apply quality initiatives.
• Demonstrate awareness of cost‑containment strategies for quality improvement.
• Support efficient use of resources for quality goals.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to meet program needs, including staff training.