Description
University of Iowa Healthcare-recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States-is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. More than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together daily to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is : Changing Medicine. Changing Lives. ®
UI Health Care is committed to a safe environment for faculty, staff, patients, and visitors. The newly created Program Director of Workplace Safety will be responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing a comprehensive safety program emphasizing violence prevention across our large, matrixed hospital system. This role is critical in ensuring a safe and healthy environment for patients, staff, and visitors by adhering to regulatory requirements, fostering a culture of safety and violence prevention, and driving continuous improvement in safety practices. The Workplace Safety Director will work closely with various departments and leadership teams to identify risks, develop mitigation strategies, and respond to incidents, ensuring compliance and enhancing overall safety performance and violence prevention. The role will help lead various teams and committees throughout the enterprise and partner with high-risk areas, such as Behavioral Health Services (BHS) and the Emergency Department (ED), as well as with Safety and Security, UIPD, threat assessment, and other involved parties.
Position Responsibilities :
Program and Policy Administration
- Establish and oversee the implementation and effectiveness of a workplace safety plan.
- Develop a global approach to workplace safety.
- Plan and execute the development of the Behavioral Emergency Response Team pilot.
- Implement Epic's Violence Assessment Tool to support applicable interventions based on risk assessment scores.
- Develop and implement comprehensive workplace safety programs, policies, and procedures tailored to UI Health Care's needs across its multiple sites of service.
- Ensure compliance with OSHA, Joint Commission, and other relevant safety regulations and standards, staying updated on changes in regulations.
- Regularly review and update safety programs to reflect current regulations, industry best practices, and organizational changes.
- Conduct regular risk assessments, safety audits, and hazard analyses across all hospital departments to identify potential safety risks.
- Develop and implement effective risk mitigation strategies to address violence in the workplace.
- Investigate incidents, accidents, and near-misses to determine root causes, develop corrective actions, and prevent recurrence.
- Develop and implement an inpatient violence risk assessment tool.
Risk Assessment and Mitigation
Conduct regular risk assessments, safety audits, and hazard analyses across all hospital departments to identify potential safety risks.Develop and implement effective risk mitigation strategies to address identified hazards and reduce workplace injuries.Investigate incidents, accidents, and near-misses to determine root causes, develop corrective actions, and prevent recurrence.Develop and implement an inpatient violence risk assessment tool.Develop and integrate a behavioral response team in partnership with Psychiatry.Training and Education
Manage de-escalation training and logistics.Review Code Greens, perform real-time monitoring (CRMs), and establish Code Green workflows.Ensure staff are informed of and comply with safety policies, procedures, and emergency protocols.Promote a culture of safety through ongoing communication, safety campaigns, and education initiatives.Partner with relevant stakeholders to develop, maintain, and regularly update emergency response plans, and collaborate to ensure they are effective and compliant with regulatory requirements.Serve as a key member of the hospital's emergency management response team, providing leadership during actual emergencies and crises.Communication and Collaboration
Collaborate with multiple functional areas and key stakeholders, including Safety & Security, Threat Assessment Team, Office of the Patient Experience, COPE, Risk Management, and high-risk areas such as Behavioral Health Services (BHS) and the Emergency Department (ED).Co-lead the Disruptive Patient and Visitor Committee.Serve as a resource for units when incidents occur.Work collaboratively with department heads, clinical leaders, and other stakeholders to integrate safety practices into all hospital operations and clinical workflows.Lead the hospital's Workplace Safety Steering Committee, facilitating regular meetings, setting agendas, and driving action items to completion.Participate in other relevant committees and task forces, contributing to broader organizational safety and quality improvement initiatives.Foster a culture of continuous improvement in workplace safety, encouraging staff engagement and feedback.Data Management and Reporting of Events
Manage systems that monitor violence prevention performance, including data collection and reporting.Maintain accurate records of safety inspections, risk assessments, incident investigations, and regulatory compliance activities.Prepare and present regular reports on safety performance, incident trends, and improvement initiatives to senior leadership and relevant committees.Ensure timely and accurate reporting of safety incidents to regulatory bodies and maintain compliance documentation.Human Resources
Provide administrative supervision to the Workplace Safety (WPS) specialist.Oversee the Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT), in partnership with Consult Liaison Services.Budget and Resource Management
Develop and manage the budget for the workplace safety department, ensuring efficient use of resources to achieve safety objectives.Advocate for necessary resources, including staffing, equipment, and training materials, to support the hospital's safety programs.Qualifications
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Occupational Health and Safety, Environmental Health, Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or a related field or equivalent amount of education and experience.Must obtain a patient safety or workplace violence certification within one year of employmentFive years of related experience in health administration, behavioral health, or safety-related fields.Proven project management skills : ability to coordinate activities and projects across departments, time management, organization of workload, analytical decision-making skills, attention to detail, and thoroughness.Proficiency with Microsoft Suite products (such as Outlook, Word, Excel, OneNote, and PowerPoint).Strong analysis and problem-solving skillsStrong communication skillsData management experienceExperience working independently with a strong focus on customer service.Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and interdisciplinary team leadership skills with professional experience working effectively with individuals from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives.Desired Qualifications
Master's degree in a related fieldExperience using Epic and Epic reporting (or similar electronic health records) in an ambulatory or hospital setting.Proven success in driving results and instilling accountability throughout the team and organization.Knowledge of University and UI Health Care policies, procedures, and regulations.Experience managing or coordinating a program.Application Process : To be considered, applicants must upload a cover letter and resume (under the submission of relevant materials) that clearly address how they meet the listed required and desired qualifications of this position. Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days. Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential / education verification.
Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process. For questions, contact Sharon Walther at sharon-walther@uiowa.edu.
This position is not eligible for University sponsorship for employment authorization.
