Quality Education Specialist

Hours: 40 hours a week. 8 hours a day. 5 days a week.
Job Description:
The High-Level Disinfection/Sterilization Education and Quality Specialist implements education, quality assurance, and process improvements for the HLD/S Program across the company enterprise.
Education
In a structured collaboration with department leaders, the HLD/S Education and Quality Specialist provides oversight and coordination of departmental education programs that support learning activities and provides ongoing assessment across the enterprise. This includes administering education to new staff, providing ongoing education, coordinating in-services with vendors, developing new educational and quality assurance materials.
Quality Assurance
With a focus on patient and employee safety, this role will work collaboratively to develop and implement a standardized quality assurance program with concrete metrics focused on HLD/S activities across the company enterprise. In addition, they will participate in the development of corrective and preventative action plans and coordinate closure of actions with assigned responsible parties. This role will develop strong working teams with various departments to make necessary improvements.
Essential Functions
Education Responsibilities:
Incorporates a variety of teaching methods into the education program including facilitated learning, online education, job aides, videos, and other methodologies to improve knowledge retention and engagement.
Provides department-level HLD/S education and support
a. Assists with new employee orientation including necessary onboarding activities
b. Administers sterile processing education curriculum for the HLD/S Program
c. Conducts recurring education on existing processes based on need or timing
d. Crafts new education based on best practices or changes in process
Is responsible for documenting the training and education as well as certification of skills and competencies from HLD/S qualified observers.
Serves as a resource to the departments performing HLD/S duties, and all ancillary departments who perform decontamination, disinfection, and sterilization when necessary. Participates in joint activities as directed by leadership.
Is responsible for recording training and education records as well as certification of skills and the consolidation of feedback from staff.
Education Requirement:
Education
High School Diploma / GED Required
Bachelor's Degree Preferred
Work Experience
At least seven (5+) years progressive experience in sterile processing and/or high-level disinfection in a complex health care setting Required
At least two (2) years education and training experience in a complex healthcare setting Required
Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or other process improvement methodologies Preferred
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution Required
Certified Endoscope Reprocessor (CER) Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution Required
Level 2A Worker - Covid Vaccination Required
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
Quality Assurance
Develops, implements, evaluates, and sustains an effective QA program focused on patient safety.
Supports all HLD/S structures and processes related to safety and quality initiatives.
Partners with HLD/S leadership when members of initiative teams are challenged in meeting their responsibilities.
Applies high reliability principles (sensitivity to operations, reluctance to simplify, preoccupation with failure, deference to expertise, and resilience) to safety and quality issues.
Understands and maintains current knowledge of the AAMI, OSHA, FDA, JCAHO, and CMS regulations and standards and how these impact the HLD/S program holistically.
Provides Departmental Sterile Processing Quality Assurance Audits
Assists with IPC rounding and audit tools
Develops and conducts the audit process for HLD/S with documentation
Conducts recurring education on quality assurance
Participates and leads process improvement and quality assurance activities.
Evaluates HLDS reprocessing practices and collaborates with reprocessing team/champions to ensure proper care/competency, handling, cleaning, and preparation for items that require HLD/S are performed.
Participates in risk management reviews, RCA, ACA, and internal audit program activities.
Serves as an effective change agent
Provides coaching and consultation to staff from all disciplines in making behavioral changes as it relates to HLD/S.
Develops plans to assure practice change has occurred and is sustained.
Role models self confidence in making necessary changes.
Reevaluates improvement plans and makes adaptations when anticipated outcomes are not achieved.Proficient with Microsoft Excel, Word and
PowerPoint
Ability to work independently and take initiative when necessary
Strong interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
Teaching/presentation skills
Has foundational company core leadership behaviors/exemplifies ICARE
Ability to function in project manager role as necessary
In partnership with management, holds others accountable as needed