Smile America Partners Template

Overview

The Director of Quality and Patient Safety for Dental is responsible for leading, developing, and implementing quality improvement and patient safety initiatives within the Clinical Excellence team. This role ensures the highest standards of care are met, compliance with relevant regulations is maintained, and a culture of continuous improvement is fostered. The Director will work closely with clinical staff, administrators, and external regulatory bodies to ensure best practices in patient care, risk management, and safety protocols.

Duties and responsibilities

Quality Improvement:

• Develop, implement, and oversee quality metrics and improvement programs that enhance patient care and outcomes in dental services.
• Monitor clinical performance and patient satisfaction data to identify areas for improvement.
• Collaborate with clinical teams to develop action plans for improving clinical outcomes and operational efficiency.
• Implement standardized clinical protocols and guidelines based on evidence-based practices.
• Complete and coordinate with team peer review and quality assurance audits.

Patient Safety:

• Lead patient safety initiatives to reduce errors and adverse events in the dental care setting.
• Establish and maintain systems for reporting and analyzing patient safety incidents, ensuring proper follow-up and corrective actions.
• Promote a culture of safety, encouraging open communication about safety concerns and incidents.
• Coordinate risk assessments and mitigation strategies to prevent harm.

Regulatory Compliance:

• Ensure dental services comply with all local, state, and federal regulations, as well as accreditation standards.
• Stay updated on changes in healthcare regulations affecting dental care and implement necessary updates to policies and procedures.
• Prepare and coordinate responses to audits, inspections, and accreditation reviews related to quality and safety.

Leadership and Collaboration:

• Collaborate with dental leadership and other healthcare professionals to align quality and safety initiatives with overall organizational goals.
• Provide leadership and guidance to dental staff on quality improvement and patient safety best practices.
• Develop and lead training programs to educate staff on safety protocols, quality standards, and continuous improvement processes.

Data Analysis and Reporting:

• Analyze patient care data and safety reports to identify trends, measure performance, and drive improvements.
• Regularly report quality and patient safety metrics to senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Develop dashboards and other tools to track progress in quality and safety initiatives.

Risk Management:

• Oversee risk management efforts within dental services, including managing patient complaints and addressing potential liability issues.
• Develop strategies to minimize clinical risks and improve overall patient safety.

Qualifications

• Current DDS or RDH professional licensure
• Minimum 5 years active clinical practice
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in healthcare quality management or patient safety, with at least 3 years in a leadership role.
• Experience in dental or healthcare services, with a strong understanding of clinical practices, safety protocols, and regulatory requirements.
• Proven track record of developing and implementing successful quality improvement and patient safety initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret clinical data.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams.
• Knowledge of accreditation standards (e.g., Joint Commission, OSHA) and healthcare regulations
• Ability to travel 10-20%
• CPHQ Certification, preferred or acquire within 1 year of hire.

Skills and Competencies

• Leadership and team management
• Knowledge of dental quality measures, healthcare regulations and compliance standards
• Effective communication and conflict resolution
• Microsoft Office Suite proficiency
• Commitment to patient-centered care and service excellence

Physical requirements

Office setting which typically requires time sitting, daily use of general office equipment, computer keyboard, copier, and fax machine, make and receive telephone calls.

Who We Are

Smile America Partners is the nation's leading in-school dental program founded almost two decades ago by two moms, who happen to also be dentists. The founders saw a tremendous need among underserved school aged children who did not have easy access to dental care and who often suffered from poor oral hygiene, tooth decay, pain and associated medical problems. Knowing that many parents could not take their children to the dentist due to issues including time off from work and transportation challenges, they sought to bring the care to the need. Today, through its dental partners, Smile America Partners provides preventive and restorative care to approximately 500,000 children per year.

Tooth decay is the most common, and preventable disease among children, more common than asthma. In fact, each year, over 51 million school hours are lost due to oral health related issues.

Smile America Partners affiliates with state licensed dentists, hygienists and assistants who use state-of-the-art portable equipment to provide all services onsite, directly in the school or in a self-contained mobile dental facility on site at the school. If portable equipment is used, classrooms, auditoriums or other school venues are literally transformed into fully functional dental offices for the day. Our expertise, obtained through years of experience bringing mobile dental care to schools, as well as through our highly qualified staff, enables us to bring exceptional care with minimal disruption to the normal school routine.

Smile America Partners is currently active in 20 states and has ongoing strategic partnerships with over 8,000 school districts, including 21 of the 25 largest school districts in the country.

Given the ongoing lack of access for many underserved children across the country, our services are in great demand and we are always looking for caring, compassionate professionals to join our team and play their part in making a difference in the lives of today's underserved children.

Rewarding Work. Competitive Compensation. Smile America Partners.

Smile America Partners is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status.