Patient Safety Clinical Specialist

Overview

Patient Safety Clinical Specialist role at University of California, San Francisco

The anticipated duration of this assignment is 2 months. The Patient Safety Clinical Specialist plays a key role in promoting a safety-supportive culture and the consistent application of evidence-based practice within UCSF Health. Reporting to the Director of Patient Safety, this position supports the implementation of the UCSF Patient Safety Plan and works to prevent, mitigate, and reduce harm from medical errors and system defects.

The Specialist coordinates investigations, analyzes patient safety data, and collaborates with leadership across departments to strengthen systems and promote continuous improvement. The role involves serving as a subject matter expert on patient safety initiatives, conducting root cause analyses, facilitating educational programs, and advancing a culture of safety and service excellence.

• Coordinate surveillance, data collection, and analysis of complex patient safety incidents, adverse events, and areas of noncompliance.
• Manage projects and track corrective actions related to patient safety events and investigations.
• Review and interpret data on patient safety practices, incidents, and outcomes; prepare detailed reports and presentations.
• Collaborate with leadership to develop and monitor action plans ensuring regulatory compliance and integration of safety practices into clinical operations.
• Lead or participate in Root Cause Analyses (RCA), Failure Mode and Effects Analyses (FMEA), and Culture of Safety initiatives.
• Support education and training programs related to patient safety and the incident reporting system.
• Maintain professional development in patient safety and regulatory changes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in nursing or health discipline, or licensed clinician in the State of California (e.g., Nursing, Pharmacy, Respiratory, Physical Therapy) and/or equivalent combination of experience/training
• Minimum four years of related experience
• Strong skills in data analysis, project management, facilitating group work, and working in a hospital environment with systems improvement
• Thorough knowledge of clinical improvement issues and patient safety methodologies, tools, regulatory requirements, and policies
• Strong project management skills with the ability to effectively manage time, organize competing priorities, and address complex issues as they arise while ensuring projects are completed on schedule
• Strong interpersonal skills for collaborating effectively with a broad range of clinical and technical staff, representatives of external regulatory agencies, and mentoring staff
• Proven ability to effectively convey complex clinical, technical, and educational information both verbally and in writing, and to produce high-quality reports, documentation, and presentations
• Strong knowledge of various clinical and business software packages and specialized applications/data management programs used in patient safety and quality improvement systems
• Experience with a variety of methods and skills for adverse event monitoring and remediation, including root cause analysis and failure mode effect analysis

• Experience with electronic health records (EHR), including CPOE decision support and clinical documentation
• Experience in a large multi-facility health system or academic institution
• Experience in Perioperative Services / Operating Room

• Clinical License (e.g., RN, Pharm
  
  D, PA, MD, RT, PT, OT, etc.)

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It is the only campus in the 10-campus UC system dedicated exclusively to the health sciences. We bring together the world’s leading experts in nearly every area of health.

We are home to five Nobel laureates who have advanced the understanding of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, aging and stem cells.

UCSF is a…