Safety Advisor I

Work Type: Full Time

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. 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.

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. Completion of a Bachelor's degree in Nursing

Master's degree preferred

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

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 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

Excellent organizational, customer service and time management skills

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.

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

Health and Dental benefits for Full-Time Employees

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Employee and Family Assistance Program

Innovation Hub

Public Transportation

Vibrant Cultural & Community Activities

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.