Tool 1 Attachments 12/2/02 4:10 PM Page 1

Leading a Strategic Planning Effort

sm
Medication Safety

Attachment 1.C

Patient Safety Officer Job Description

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The content herein was developed under a project supported by the Delaware Valley Healthcare
Council and is subject to the copyright of ECRI, ISMP, and DVHERF.
for
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Pathways

The following sample job description provides a brief position

summary, a list of essential functions, and basic qualifications for a
Patient Safety Officer. While each hospital may have differing
functions that may fall under the role of patient safety officer, the
sample job description covers essential clinical patient safety
functions and should be used as a starting point when creating a
more detailed job description for the position.

www.medpathways.info
1.C.1 2002© American Hospital Association, Health Research & Educational Trust,
and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices
Tool 1 Attachments 12/2/02 4:10 PM Page 2
Leading a Strategic Planning Effort
sm
Medication Safety
Patient Safety Officer
The content herein was developed under a project supported by the Delaware Valley Healthcare Council and is subject
to the copyright of ECRI, ISMP, and DVHERF.
.................
Position Summary:
for
The designated Safety Officer will have primary
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oversight of the facility-wide patient safety
Pathways
program. This leadership role will direct others
within the facility towards process improve-
ments that will support the reduction of
medical/health care errors and other factors
that contribute to unintended adverse patient
outcomes. This practitioner provides leadership
for safety assessments, coordinates the activities
of the patient safety committee, educates other
practitioners on the system-based causes for
medical error, consults with management and
staff, and communicates literature-based ideas
regarding effective patient safety strategies to
others within the organization.
Essential Functions: The Patient Safety
Officer will…
1. Oversee the creation, review, and refinement
of the scope of the Patient Safety Program
within the facility on an annual basis.
2. Coordinate the activities of the Patient
Safety Committee.
3. Serve as liaison between the CEO, the Board
of Trustees and the Safety committee.
4. Oversee the management and use of medical
error information. Review internal error
reports and utilize information from external
reporting programs (e.g., ISMP Medication
Safety Alert™ and ECRI Health Device Alerts.
5. Investigate (along with risk management if
a separate position) patient safety issues
within the facility. Participate in Root Cause
Analysis of internal error reports.
6. Recommend and facilitate change within
the organization to improve patient safety,
based on identified risks.
www.medpathways.info
1.C.2
7. Collaborate the development of policy and
procedures effecting organizational safety.
8. Develop a mechanism for internal
communication of patient safety related
information.
9. Design and implement educational
presentations that facilitate the understanding
and implementation of patient safety
standards within the organization.
10. Serve as a resource for clinical departments
on issues of patient safety.
11. Support and encourage error reporting
throughout the organization through a
nonpunitive error reporting system.
12. Support the development of a recognition
program aimed at improving patient safety.
13. Report to the governing body on the
occurrence of known medical and health
care errors and identified near misses and
dangerous conditions within the facility,
as well as actions taken, either proactively,
or based on occurrences. Barriers to the
implementation of safety programs should
be addressed.
Qualifications:
1. An advanced degree in a health care related
field is desirable. A Bachelor’s degree with
appropriate prerequisite knowledge, experi-
ence and skills should also be considered.
2. Experience with the organization’s identified
Quality Improvement model/program
3. Knowledge of risk management principles
and issues regarding patient safety
4. Superior interpersonal skills
5. Strong leadership qualities (task completion,
motivation)
6. Effective change agent
2002© American Hospital Association, Health Research & Educational Trust,
and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices