Continuous Improvement Specialist - Clinical - Nemours

This position provides continuous improvement support, through a clinical lens, to Nemours by functioning as an analyst, facilitator, consultant and/or project manager as required. They will leverage their clinical expertise to support improvements in areas that require clinical subject matter expertise. This individual will work throughout the system with a broad range of stakeholder groups, focusing on clinical, operational and enterprise systems areas. This work includes leading larger scale continuous improvement work such as value stream mapping (VSM), clinical pathways and strategy/goal deployment.

In alignment with our Strategic Plan, Nemours has shifted our clinical focus toward a care model that emphasizes clinical pathways. This role will partner with clinical & support teams to develop & implement clinical pathways. Working across the team and with partners, the specialist is responsible for pathway success using PDSA cycles.

The functions of this role are variable but include to partner with clinical teams to deeply understand current state, facilitate evidence review, draft pathway algorithms, and determine meaningful measures. Through facilitation, this role establishes clinician consensus, gathers stakeholder feedback, and uses an established process to finalize, educate, launch and sustain pathways

In this role, the specialist ensures the enculturation of the enterprise-wide strategy, to socialize existing and promote new clinical pathways to inter-professional teams through relationship building. In addition to development, the specialist is flexible in their approach based on unique needs of each pathway. This person serves as a role model, facilitator, change agent, consultant, and leader to promote the clinical pathways, clinical improvement and transformation across the system.

Essential Functions

1. Develops relationships, collaborates, and interacts with local clinicians to support, implement, and sustain clinical pathways.

2. Identifies needs, escalates problems & barriers and engages with enterprise partners to advance clinical improvements.

3. Utilizes skilled oral, written, and electronic communication to communicate effectively and to foster collegial relationships both intra and interdepartmentally.

4. Provides consultation and resources to clinical teams and collaborates to identify opportunities for improvement.

5. Performs extensive4-actuals, on-site observations , and interviews with frontline staff.

6. Facilitate evidence review through literature request and review.

7. Drafts algorithms using Visio or similar software.

8. Facilitation of improvement workgroups with interdisciplinary teams to establish medical consensus around evidenced-based care.

9. Engages key stakeholders feedback throughout all phases of pathway development and launch.

10. Facilitates pathway approval from area leaders and ensures proper Epic integration of the clinical pathway.

11. Support execution of education, implementation & sustainment.

12. Partners closely across Transformation Office leadership to ensure consistency and delivery on vision.

13. Role models Nemours Standards of Behavior and actively supports Nemours vision and strategic plan.

14. Maintains professional practice knowledge base, including departmental and organizational policies, standards of care, and procedures.

15. Models professional behaviors including involvement in professional organizations, engagement in lifelong learning activities, dissemination of information through publications and presentations, and involvement in quality improvement and research activities.

16. Coaches at all levels of the organization on the habits and disciplines of a successful continuous improvement culture. Teaches and trains teams and individuals on the application of problem specific tools to support improvement activity.

17. Demonstrates the ability to challenge the status-quo and encourage breakthrough thinking to ensure Continuous Improvement principles are embraced.

18. Researches and identifies relative benchmarks to be used in the improvements.

19. Assures advancement and adoption of Continuous Improvement principles and methodologies across the enterprise.

Requirements

Clinical degree required (Pharm D, OD, BSN, etc.) & experience with lean management systems, tools, and methodologies.

Candidate has 5+ years of direct experience in clinical work with experience in lean mindset, management system & methods. Candidate has also coached/mentored others.