Integrated Transfusion Safety Officer

Job Responsibility:

Work Type: Full Time

In April 2024, the Boards of St. Mary's General and Grand River Hospitals both independently voted in favour of a voluntary merger of the Hospitals to form a new hospital organization. This evolution of our partnership will occur alongside our joint redevelopment work, as we strive to build a new acute care campus in the community. We welcome talent to both St. Mary's General Hospital and Grand River Hospital that are ready to be part of an exciting, generational change for hospital care in Waterloo Region.

Please Note: New employees must provide documentation/proof of full COVID-19 vaccination status, a 2-step TB screening, as well as proof of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox) prior to their start date at St. Mary's General Hospital. Staff will require clearance from Employee Health and Wellness before they are able to begin any position within SMGH or GRH.

Position Summary : Reporting to the Manager of the Transfusion Medicine Program, the TSO as an integral member of the Transfusion Medicine (TM) team, the Grand River Hospital, Freeport and St. Mary's General Hospital sites Transfusion Safety Officer (TSO) demonstrates clinical leadership in hemovigilance as a quality process with an aim to improve quality and increase safety of blood transfusion, including oversight for all activities of blood transfusion best practice, at the bedside. The TSO fosters linkages between the transfusion service and the clinical team that includes physicians, nursing, allied health clinicians and other personnel taking care of patients who receive or are potential recipients of blood products. The TSO is responsible for leveraging best practice along the transfusion vein to vein loop with the main focus on transfusion related activities at the bedside.

Position Requirements:

• Completion of a Bachelor's degree in Nursing
• Master's degree preferred
• Current registration in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario
• A minimum of 5 years Transfusion Medicine experience preferred, including 2 years' experience working in a leadership role in Transfusion Medicine or a relevant acute care specialty program
• Five (5) years' experience in a large community/tertiary hospital organization, preferred
• Change management experience, required
• Project management experience, preferred
• Prior experience in risk management processes in an acute care center, required
• Prior experience in quality assurance initiatives, required
• Prior experience in clinical policy development and evaluation, required
• Knowledge of accreditation programs, and experience in assessments and internal audit, preferred
• Demonstrated leadership and problem solving skills, required
• Well-developed interpersonal along with written and verbal communication skills, required
• Knowledge and experience with blood and blood product utilization in the hospital setting, required
• Ability to be flexible, adaptable and perceptive in a fast paced, change heavy environment
• Compliance with confidentiality requirements
• Excellent organizational, customer service and time management skills
• Well-developed interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills. Experience with oral and written presentations is required.
• Computer knowledge and skills (e.g. Excel, Access, Word, PowerPoint, Visio, Publisher, WebEx, and MS Project an asset) and ability to review data as needed.

Responsibilities at a Glance:

• Applying current, evidence-based clinical knowledge, TM expertise and provincial, federal and international blood transfusion standards to develop, evaluate, revise and support the implementation of transfusion safety best practice guidelines, policies and procedures
• Collaborating with the TM Medical Director in the investigation of all adverse transfusion reactions and reporting of serious transfusion adverse events to regulatory bodies as applicable
• Implementation, maintenance and revision of transfusion safety educational resources for clinicians
• Ensuring regulatory quality control requirements are being met for equipment used outside the blood transfusion laboratory such as blood storage refrigerators, blood warmers and perioperative cell savers
• Investigating reported transfusion related patient safety events, assessing risk levels and root cause and recommending changes to practice to prevent re-occurrences where appropriate
• Conducting prospective and retrospective audits on blood product utilization, blood transfusion administration and documentation
• Participation in internal and external professional organizations and committees to provide representation and guidance on transfusion safety best practice guidelines
• Disseminating research findings through professional presentations and publications

What we offer

Health and Dental benefits for Full-Time Employees

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Employee and Family Assistance Program

Tuition Assistance Program

A great team

Life in Waterloo Region:

Multicultural

Innovation Hub

Public Transportation

Leading Schools

Thriving Economy

Vibrant Cultural & Community Activities

Application Instructions:

Accommodations are available during all stages of the recruitment process in accordance with the Human Rights Code. SMGH & GRH are committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) to provide an inclusive, barrier free workplace. We will accommodate the accessibility needs of individuals with disabilities to support participation in all aspects of the recruitment process. Should you require this accommodation, please contact View email address on ca.edajobs.com .

We would like to thank all candidates in advance for their interest and only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Due to the volume of applications, we receive, we are unable to confirm the receipt of individual applications or resumes.