Quality Improvement Specialist

Position Title:

Quality Improvement Specialist

Department:

Ambulatory Quality

Job Description:

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As a Quality Improvement Specialist, you will partner with physicians, nurses, and healthcare leaders to improve patient care and outcomes. In this role, you will design and facilitate service line improvement and quality programs, serving as a key resource to align priorities, monitor performance, and advance meaningful improvement. Using data and process improvement methodologies, you will identify improvement needs, launch initiatives, and lead through coaching and example.

This role is ideal for a curious, team-oriented professional who enjoys asking thoughtful questions, solving complex challenges, building strong partnerships, and using data to guide decisions and drive measurable results across programs and service lines. The position supports ambulatory quality and value-based care initiatives, including CMS programs such as MIPS and alternative payment models, by helping translate performance data into actionable improvement strategies. Every project you support contributes to safer care, better patient experiences, stronger quality performance, and improved outcomes for the communities we serve.

General Description:

The Quality Improvement Specialist functions as an independent improvement practitioner who partners with clinical and operational leaders to drive measurable improvements aligned with organizational priorities. This role integrates advanced analytics, facilitation, and coaching to support improvement initiatives across quality, safety, patient experience, and operational domains. The Specialist strengthens organizational improvement capability and contributes to a learning health system through data‑driven decision‑making and evidence‑based methodologies.

Essential Responsibilities:

Responsibilities listed in this section are core to the position and encompass all organization facilities, to include outlying Ambulatory Clinics. Inability to perform these responsibilities with or without an accommodation may result in disqualification from the position.

Leads moderate‑complexity improvement initiatives aligned with organizational quality, safety, and performance priorities.

Partners with leaders and frontline teams to identify performance gaps, establish improvement aims, and prioritize opportunities for impact.

Designs and manages comprehensive measurement plans, including outcome, process, and balancing measures.

Independently manages data collection, validation, analysis, and reporting for assigned improvement initiatives.

Develops and interprets run charts, control charts, dashboards, and other visual analytics to inform improvement decisions.

Facilitates structured improvement sessions using methodologies such as PDSA, A3, Lean, and root cause analysis.

Supports teams in distinguishing signal from noise and focusing improvement efforts on areas of greatest impact.

Translates complex datasets into clear, actionable insights tailored to diverse clinical, operational, and leadership audiences.

Prepares and delivers improvement updates and executive‑ready presentations for leadership, quality committees, and interdisciplinary forums.

Serves as a subject matter expert for assigned quality measures, including specifications, benchmarks, and performance trends.

Supports the design, implementation, monitoring, and sustainment of improvement initiatives using evidence‑based methodologies.

General Responsibilities:

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Public Health, Health Informatics, Data Science, Business, Statistics, or related field required.

Experience: At least three (3) years of experience in healthcare quality improvement, performance improvement, patient safety, or related analytics role required.

License(s)/Certification(s)/Registration(s) Required: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, PMP, Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) or Equivalent improvement certification within 12 months of hire.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of clinical healthcare operations, evidence-based practice, and healthcare research principles.

• Advanced analytical, facilitation, and structured problem-solving skills.

• Demonstrated ability to independently lead improvement initiatives.

• Skilled in measurement for improvement, variation analysis, and data visualization.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to present to diverse audiences.

• Ability to influence and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams and service lines.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in dynamic and complex environments.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and data visualization tools.

• Ability to interpret regulatory and accreditation requirements within improvement work.

• Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.

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OU Health is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including PTO, 401(k), medical and dental plans, and many more. We know that a total benefits and compensation package, designed to meet your specific needs both inside and outside of the work environment, create peace of mind for you and your family.

About Us

OU Health is the state’s only comprehensive academic health system of hospitals, clinics and centers of excellence. With 11,000 employees and more than 1,300 physicians and advanced practice providers, OU Health is home to Oklahoma’s largest doctor network with a complete range of specialty care. OU Health serves Oklahoma and the region with the state’s only freestanding children’s hospital, the only National Cancer Institute-Designated OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, Oklahoma’s flagship hospital, which serves as the state’s only Level 1 trauma center and Edmond Medical Center in the heart of the Edmond Community. Becker’s Hospital Review named University of Oklahoma Medical Center one of the 100 Great Hospitals in America for 2020. OU Health’s oncology program at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center was named Oklahoma’s top facility for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report in its 2020-21 rankings. OU Health also was ranked by U.S. News & World Report as high performing in these specialties: Colon Surgery, COPD and Congestive Heart Failure. OU Health’s mission is to lead healthcare in patient care, education and research.

Experts in prevention, treatment and cures, our team works to improve lives through innovation in medical care, education and research, while investing in the people, technologies and facilities that will enable us to achieve our goals. We are seeking individuals who have a passion and talent for caring for others. By joining our team, you will provide quality health care to our community through the work you do every day. We provide clinical and non-clinical opportunities to further your career and we invite you to explore our available positions.

Equal employment opportunities are provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or protected veteran status in accordance with applicable federal laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Reasonable accommodations are made to the known physical and mental limitations of qualified individuals with disabilities.