Posted Date: 2/17/2023
Job Location: St. Anthony Regional Hospital, 311 South Clark St, PO Box 628, Carroll, IA, 51401
Department: Quality Management
Employment Type: Full-Time
Job Description
Job Summary
The Safety Officer initiates and manages the development and implementation of a comprehensive organization-wide safety program, and is responsible for compliance with accreditation standards and licensing regulations related to the safety program. This person provides leadership for all-cause safety assessments, coordinates the activities of the Safety Committee, educates staff on their roles and responsibilities related to the environment of care, emergency preparedness, and the safe care of patients. The Safety Officer promotes a safe, functional, and supportive environment within the organization. The Safety Officer is responsible for working collaboratively with leaders and frontline staff for the purpose of measurably improving physical plant and patient safety, and reducing overall harm and errors.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
• Provides leadership and direction to the organizational safety strategy.
• Continuously evaluates and improves the safety programming based on internal needs, external requirements, and standards of care.
• With appropriate collaboration, directs the development of a comprehensive Safety Plan.
• Conducts an annual assessment of safety risks.
• Ensures the development of surveillance systems to identify and mitigate potential harms.
• Supports and encourages submission of safety events via variance reporting from all staff.
• Works in collaboration with leadership to coordinate root cause analyses of safety events, and assures implementation of resulting action plans.
• Facilitates process improvement teams that directly support organizational safety goals.
• Coordinates organizational response to regulatory standards and guidelines related to safety, including but not limited to National Patient Safety Goals, National Fire Protection Association standards, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Emergency Preparedness standards, Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
• With the collaboration of leadership and medical staff, designs, updates, and implements safety education for new employee orientation and continuing education.
• Monitors literature and professional organizations for new or revised best practices related to safety.
• Provides input into the budget process for expenses related to organizational safety.
• Works willingly and accepts assignments as given.
• Attends all mandatory meetings and programs.
• Participates in opportunities that enhance personal and professional growth.
• Performs other duties as necessary or assigned.
• Complies with the Corporate Compliance Policy and all laws, regulations, and Standards of Conduct relating to the position and agrees to report any suspected violations of law or Standards of Conduct.
• Complies with all applicable state and federal regulations.
• Maintains a safe work environment using safe work practices, utilizing standard precautions and complying with hazardous waste procedures at all times as described in St. Anthony's Safety Manual.
• Maintains the confidentiality of patient, resident, employee and organizational information.
• Other duties may be assigned
Supervisory Responsibilities
None
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience
Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing required with current licensure. Master’s Degree preferred
Minimum of 5 years of clinical experience in a healthcare setting.
Basic understanding of care processes provided in multiple areas of a health care organization.
Language Skills
Excellent verbal and writing skills.
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before customers, patients, families and employees of the organization. Ability to read, analyze, and interpret healthcare regulations.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; talk and hear; and use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to walk and sit. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 21 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, color vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to risk of electrical shock and blood-borne pathogens. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, outside weather conditions, risk of radiation, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Apply Online
If you have further questions, please call the Human Resources Department at 712-794-5111.
Back