Patient Safety Specialist at The African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE)

Job Purpose

• The Patient Safety Specialist will support in the development, implementation, and monitoring of a comprehensive patient safety programme at AMCE. This role is critical to fostering a culture of safety by managing incident reports, conducting investigations, facilitating training, and ensuring compliance with international standards (e.g., JCI) to minimize risk and enhance patient care outcomes across the hospital.

Key Accountabilities/Responsibilities

Incident Management & Investigation

• Oversee the daily operation of the incident reporting system, ensuring accurate classification and tracking of all patient safety incidents and near-misses.
• Conduct thorough Root Cause Analyses (RCA) for serious incidents and support the development of robust corrective action plans.
• Monitor incident trends, prepare detailed reports, and provide actionable recommendations for systemic improvements to the Patient Safety Manager.
• Ensure timely escalation of critical incidents to senior leadership and assist in preparing mandatory safety reports for external regulatory agencies.

Risk Assessment & Mitigation

• Perform proactive risk assessments across clinical and operational areas to identify high-risk processes and potential sources of patient harm.
• Collaborate with clinical teams to develop and implement mitigation strategies, including clinical pathways and checklists, to reduce errors and prevent adverse events.
• Monitor and analyze data related to medication safety, infection control, and fall prevention, reporting findings to the Patient Safety Manager.
• Coordinate and participate in environmental safety audits and patient safety-focused emergency preparedness drills.

Safety Culture & Training

• Promote a non-punitive, objective culture that encourages transparent reporting and learning from errors across all departments.
• Develop and deliver engaging patient safety training programmes, workshops, and simulation exercises for all levels of hospital staff.
• Integrate core patient safety principles into the orientation program for new hires.
• Facilitate interdisciplinary safety rounds and debrief sessions to engage frontline staff in safety improvements.

Quality Improvement & Data Management

• Collaborate with the Quality Department to integrate patient safety goals into broader quality improvement projects.
• Monitor key patient safety indicators (e.g., HAIs, medication errors, falls) and assist in benchmarking performance against national and international standards.
• Lead Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles to test and implement new safety interventions at the unit level.
• Prepare dashboards and regular safety performance reports for executive review and the Patient Safety Committee.
• Utilize safety software to ensure data integrity, manage incident databases, and leverage analytics to predict and prevent future safety events.

Interdepartmental Collaboration

• Work closely with clinical leaders, Infection Control, Pharmacy, and Facilities departments to address cross-functional safety issues effectively.
• Support the Patient Safety Manager in representing the department in hospital committees and external forums.
• Assist in efforts to involve patients and families in safety initiatives, acting as a resource for patient safety partners.
• Collaborate with Legal and Risk Management on safety-related disclosures and claims investigations as directed.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Administration, or a related healthcare field. A Master’s degree is an advantage.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in a clinical or healthcare setting.
• Mandatory: At least 2 years of direct experience in Patient Safety, Quality Improvement, or Risk Management within a hospital.
• Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) or equivalent certification is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated knowledge of JCI accreditation standards and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) methodology.

Skills & Competencies

• Clinical Knowledge: Strong understanding of clinical workflows and the ability to identify risks in complex healthcare processes.
• Analytical & Investigative: Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze data, identify trends, and conduct thorough investigations.
• Communication & Influence: Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills to effectively engage and influence multi-disciplinary teams at all levels.
• Tech-Savvy: Proficiency in incident reporting systems, data analysis tools (e.g., Excel), and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Detail-Oriented & Organized: Meticulous attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• High Integrity: Demonstrated professionalism, discretion, and commitment to ethical standards in handling sensitive patient safety information.