Description:

Alberta Health Services (AHS), Edmonton Zone invites applications for the role of the Deputy Zone Clinical Department Head (DZCDH), Quality-Obstetrics.

This 0.20 FTE position reports jointly to the Zone Clinical Department Head (ZCDH), Women’s Health and the Associate Zone Medical Director (AZMD), Integrated Quality Management (IQM). The successful candidate will be responsible for assisting the Zone Clinical Department Head (ZCDH) in carrying out her/ his duties and is a key leadership position responsible for leading quality and safety initiatives within the Department.  Leaders in this position work directly with the AZMD, IQM to ensure that quality and safety priorities are aligned with zonal and provincial initiatives within Alberta Health Services (AHS).

The Obstetrics program falls under the MNCY SCN and the Gynecology program falls under the Surgery SCN.  Obstetrical services are specialized in the Edmonton Zone and are distributed among the five hospitals in the zone, including a tertiary level facility.  The zone serves a large catchment area both within Alberta and beyond, and also includes underserved populations including Indigenous and immigrant women.

This position is responsible for:

Quality Improvement:

• Collaboratively identifying quality improvement (QI) opportunities, and leading QI initiatives using the AHS Quality Management Framework and the Health Quality Council of Alberta six dimension framework
• Quality Management Plan: effectively engaging leadership and physicians in developing a Quality Management Plan aligned with provincial, zonal and Obstetric & Gynecological strategic priorities, focused on clinical quality and system metrics related to clinical quality
• Quality Literacy Strategy: developing a Quality Literacy Strategy for physicians and teams in the department using change management strategy
• Quality Improvement Processes: engaging leaders and their front-line teams in Quality Improvement initiatives using QI methodologies and tools to achieve clinical improvements.
• Quality Monitoring: developing Quality Monitoring using ongoing aggregate data, with regular reporting and sharing of quality indicators, to improve learnings
• Represents Obstetrical & Gynecological leadership and issues in attendance at the Zone Quality Assurance Committee;
• Effectively works with operational dyad partner to Co-Chair the Department Quality Council, into which other sites and programs report
• Establish and empower local Quality Councils at each site as per the AHS Quality Management Framework.
• Innovating future-state approaches to Quality Improvement in collaboration with partners such as the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Accreditation Canada, and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons

Safety:

• Promoting and modelling a Just Culture within the Department.
• Supporting and assisting clinical leaders in managing clinically serious adverse events.
• Assisting leaders in reporting patient safety concerns through the Reporting and Learning System (RLS) and using the Recommendation Tracker reports to understand how the zone and respective Department respond to patient safety events.
• Facilitating departmental Quality Assurance Reviews (QARs).
• Building a shared understanding of the learnings from Patient Safety Learning Summaries (PSLS).
• Optimization of Educational Case Rounds to reflect a Just Culture and safety learnings for all.

Key Accountabilities:

• Active participation in and encouragement of physician participation in QI/ PS activities.
• Ensure standards of care and defined health outcomes are being achieved.  This should include:
  • Ongoing monitoring of the quality of clinical processes via quality councils
  • Ensuring effective strategies are in place to achieve QI/ PS goals;
  • Active participation in Accreditation Canada, AHS quality standards, and Royal College requirements.
• Promoting Just Culture and supporting and aiding with the management of serious adverse events.
• Advocate for the provision of high-quality and safe patient care within the Zone Clinical Department and coordinate service delivery within all the zone’s facilities and communities.
• Collaborate and work with Deputy Zone Clinical Department Head (DZCDH), Quality-Gynecology
• Collaborate and work with both General Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine sections for a comprehensive approach within this program.
• Assist ZCDH with duties as may be necessary.

The DZCDH is expected to attend the following meetings:

• Zone Department Executive Committee
• Site Quality Assurance Committees
• Department Quality Council
• Edmonton Zone Quality Council
• Women’s Health Zone Department Executive Committee
• Regional Obstetrics and Gynecology Department Executive Committee
• MNCY SCN meetings

The position has an expected start date of November 15, 2023 and an expected term length of 3 years.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated abilities in communication, conflict resolution and a passion for quality and patient safety.   They will be an inclusive and visionary leader with experience in medical leadership and considered a strong clinician by peers.

The successful candidate will possess the ability to form strong interpersonal relationships, have demonstrated supervisory experience, and be an excellent clinician with the respect of their peers. The successful candidate will also be committed to fulfilling clinical and non-clinical duties as a representative of the Department of Women’s Health.  Experience and/or previous education in Quality Improvement will be considered an asset.

Candidates must be Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) certified, be eligible to work in Canada, and hold or be eligible for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta and appointment to the AHS Medical Staff.  Evidence of formal administrative education and training would also be considered an asset.  

This posting is currently open to current AHS Medical Staff in Women’s Health in the Edmonton Zone.

To apply, please forward a copy of your curriculum vitae and a letter of interest online through the doctorjobsalberta.com posting with copy to:

Dr. Hajira Danial

Zone Clinical Department Head (ZCDH), Women’s Health

c/o Kelli-ann Tymchuk at ***@albertahealthservices.ca (🔒 Premium)

We thank all applicants for their interest; only those individuals selected for an interview will be contacted.  All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Deadline for submission of applications is 30 days; however, the competition will remain open until the position is filled. 

Alberta Health Services hires on the basis of merit. We are committed to the principle of equity in employment. We welcome diversity and encourage applications from all qualified women and men, including persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and Aboriginal persons. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.