Improvement Specialist (UPMC Shadyside)

UPMC Shadyside is seeking a dynamic and experienced professional to join our Patient Safety and Innovation Department as an Improvement Specialist. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated, detail-oriented individual who is passionate about improving patient care and advancing quality outcomes while helping to foster a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

Position Overview:

The Patient Safety Improvement Specialist conducts thorough reviews of patient safety events and works closely with the Chief Nursing Officer, Medical Director of Patient Safety, and Patient Safety Officer to determine event classifications in line with Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority guidelines. This role helps facilitate and lead Root Cause Analyses using a Just Culture approach to identify system issues and opportunities for improvement. The specialist supports improvement projects that arise from good catches, high-risk near misses, and serious or sentinel events, helping drive safer processes and a stronger culture of safety across the organization.

Schedule:

Full-time, 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday, hybrid model with on-site and work from home availability

Why Choose UPMC?

UPMC is committed to investing in healthcare professionals—financially, personally, and professionally. With tuition reimbursement, continuous professional development resources, and clear pathways for career advancement through the Improvement Specialist career ladder, UPMC provides the support needed for long-term success and growth. Remote work opportunities are also available periodically, based on departmental needs, offering additional flexibility while advancing your career in healthcare.

Responsibilities:

• Project Leadership & Coordination
  • Lead or co-facilitate teams aligned with annual assessments and organizational goals
  • Assume leadership roles in core clinical design team meetings and key committees
  • Support redesign efforts through delegated leadership duties
  • Create a supportive environment for redesign work within departments
• Assessment & Goal Setting
  • Coordinate assessments of new clinical design projects for implementation
  • Conduct annual operational assessments using organizational data and surveys
  • Contribute to setting quality, cost, and service goals based on assessment findings
• Communication & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Communicate clinical design activities and improvements with staff, managers, and administration
  • Consult with administrative and medical staff leaders, department heads, and committees
  • Build positive relationships with staff and leaders across departments
  • Partner with project area directors to facilitate work and negotiate support
• Data & Process Improvement
  • Apply tracking methods to monitor progress and identify redesign needs
  • Collect and present accurate, timely data to demonstrate improvement results
  • Utilize cost-effective approaches when planning team activities
  • Integrate cost-saving opportunities into clinical practice changes
• Coaching & Mentorship
  • Assess team development stages and apply strategies to achieve goals
  • Coach and advise team members in collaboration with their supervisors
  • Provide mentorship at the department, unit, and team levels
• Professional Development & Advocacy
  • Maintain accountability for self-development facilitation, change management, and quality improvement
  • Participate in professional organizations to enhance growth and build industry relationships
  • Share accomplishments through presentations or publications at local, regional, and national forums

Qualifications:

Minimum 5 years of related experience with 3 years of hospital and/or healthcare experience to be considered. Minimum 7 years of improvement experience with 5 years in Quality and or healthcare experience required for posted salary. Bachelor's degree in Nursing, Business Administration or related field required at time of hire/transfer. Master's degree in Business Administration preferred. Knowledge of information systems and process improvement techniques. Must be able to demonstrate skills to understand and interpret data. Ability to establish and maintain positive, caring relationships with executives, managers, physicians, non-physician providers, ancillary and support staff, other departments, and patients/families. Ability to work productively and effectively within a complex environment, handle multiple/changing priorities and specialized equipment. Exemplary critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving abilities required as related to various aspects of patient care. Critical thinking skills necessary to exercise and to lead others. Mobility and visual manual dexterity. Physical stamina for frequent walking, standing, lifting.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

UPMC approved certification required. If the employee does not have a UPMC approved certification, a Master's degree may be substituted in lieu of certification. Act 34. UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.